
Class _^ 

Book 

Copyright N^ 



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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Kindergarten Stories 



FOR THE 



SUNDAY SCHOOL AND HOME 



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B Y 

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LAURA ELLA CRAGIN 

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Chi c AGO , III, 
THE NEW ERA PUBLISHING CO. 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

MAV 111 1903 

Copyngnt bntry 

CUASS CU XXo. No 

^"£>^^> 

COPY 8. 



■ {H02 



Copyright 1902 

by 

The New Era Publishing Co. 



Published January, 1903, 



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To my Mother, 

whose love beautified my ozv7i childhood 

and gave me the sweetest revelation of the heart of the 

Heavenly Father, 

and 

to the little children in my Sunday School Kindergarten, 

whose bright faces have been the inspiration of my stories, 

I lovingly dedicate this little book. 



PREFACE. 



" There is nothing on earth half so holy 
As the innocent heart of a child. 

" They are idols of hearts and of households; 
They are angels of God in disguise; 
His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses, 
His glory still shines in their eyes; 
Those truants from home and from heaven, 
They have made me more manly and mild; 
And I know now how Jesus could liken 
The kingdom of God to a child." 

Surely all earnest Kindergartners, as they come 
before their children, must have felt the truth of 
these beautiful lines of Charles M. Dickinson im- 
pressed very deeply upon their hearts. How shall 
we keep them "holy" and "innocent" — these "angels 
of God," whom He has sent us? How shall we help 
them to unfold naturally and symmetrically as the 
blossoms do — these fiowers in our "Child-Garden?" 
Such questions demand our deepest thought and con- 
sideration. 

Kindergartners are sometimes called the spiritual 
mothers of the little ones who are intrusted to their 
care and this beautiful name can be applied with 
especial appropriateness to a Sunday School Kinder- 
gartner. From her the children are to receive im- 
pressions, in some cases perhaps their first, of that 
spiritual world which is round about us and in which 
our noblest thoughts and desires find truest expres- 

ix 



PREFACE 

sion. To help our children to enter into this higher 
life, two qualities must be especially developed. First 
that of love, "the great motive power which enriches 
and ennobles life," and second that of reverence, 
which, also, is of vital importance. This latter qual- 
ity is to be taught, however, far more by example 
than by precept. If the attitude of the Kindergart- 
ner and her assistants always expresses a conscious- 
ness of a Higher Presence, the children will instinc- 
tively acquire this feeling of reverence. Miss Har- 
rison, in her helpful book, "A Study of Child- 
Nature," writes : "Much of the well intended prim- 
ary Sunday School work loses half of its efficiency 
from the teacher's not understanding that the child 
must be in gentle, reverential mood before he can 
be in the right religious attitude. The teacher should 
approach this holiest temple of God with reverence. 
Is there a place holier than the soul of a child? 
'You,' said Froebel, 'must keep holy the being of the 
little child. Protect it from every rough and rude 
impression, every touch of the vulgar; a touch, a 
look, a sound, is often sufficient to inflict savage 
wounds.' " 

A friend, who has been for many years a super- 
visor of Kindergartens, said that she feared to enter 
a Sunday School Kindergarten lest she should find 
that, in the desire to make it a Kindergarten, the 
teacher had forgotten it was a Sunday School. The 
clapping of hands and other meaningless exercises, 
the various devices for resting the children or secur- 
ing attention all detract from the spirit of reverence 



PREFACE 

and waste precious time. The children must not be 
fatigued nor kept long in the same position, but, in 
addition to the walk which must usually be taken to 
and from the Sunday School, the exercise incidental 
to the carrying out of the program will prove all 
sufficient. 

The spirit of reverence is often destroyed by the 
gestures which are introduced with the songs. Miss 
Beard, in her pamphlet entitled "Music in the Prim- 
ary Sunday School," emphasizes the fact that ges- 
tures, as a rule, detract from, rather than add to, the 
helpfulness of the songs. In an introductory chapter 
to her book, "The Kindergarten Sunday School," 
she offers many helpful suggestions regarding the 
music in the Kindergarten. 

In singing, though the words are of supreme im- 
portance and should not only be such as to impress 
the desired truth, but also should be so simple as to 
come easily within the child's comprehension, the 
musical setting is likewise essential. Unfortunately, 
there is still a lack of good Sunday School music 
and for my stories I have frequently been obliged to 
suggest songs for the sake of the words, though the 
music was unsatisfactory. 

Too many songs should not be given, as it is bet- 
ter to have a few thoroughly learned than many only 
partially committed. Though new songs have some- 
times been suggested on successive Sundays, it has 
been intended that a choice should be made from 
them, not that all should be used. 

In order to prevent self-consciousness, it is rarely 
wise to ask individual children to sing or speak. 

xi 



PREFA CE 

The development of that love which forgets itself 
in service may be aided through the benevolences of 
the Kindergarten. These should always be of such 
a nature as to enable the child to come into close 
touch with those to whom his pennies are given. If 
there is a hospital near enough for the children to 
visit, scrapbooks — for which they can bring the pic- 
tures — toys, books, flowers and fruit may be given 
with their money to the children's ward. Another 
worthy object is a mission Kindergarten, from which 
definite and interesting reports of the work and the 
needs can often be received. The birthday pennies 
may be contributed to some Fresh Air Sanitarium 
for little children. If the money is sent to a foreign 
field, some one child should be the recipient, whose 
picture should be shown, if possible, and from whom 
the children should receive frequent reports. Scrap- 
books, which can be made and sent to this little child 
at but small expense, would increase the children's 
interest. 

In order to secure the best results in the Kinder- 
garten, it is of the utmost importance that the Kin- 
dergartner should know her children individually 
and make them realize her personal interest in, and 
love for them. As soon as a child enters the Kinder- 
garten, a careful record should be made of his name, 
address and birthday. The children should be 
greeted each Sunday with a clasp of the hand and a 
cordial ''I am glad to see you," with an added "I 
missed you last Sunday," if such was the case. The 
reason for absence should be immediately ascer- 
tained. This necessitates the making of many calls 

xii 



PREFACE 

and the writing of many notes, but both parents and 
children so deeply appreciate the interest taken that 
the Kindergartner is amply repaid. 

On all especial days, such as Thanksgiving, 
Christmas, Easter, the birthdays, and occasionally at 
other times, pictures may be given to the children. 
On the back of these may be written a verse, such as 
"Suffer little children," or one of the Beatitudes, 
which can be easily learned. It is not wise, how- 
ever, to give many verses, as these can be more 
intelligently memorized when the children are a lit- 
tle older. 

As the hour is always needed to carry out the 
Kindergarten program, it is not best to" unite often 
with the other departments. On Children's Day, 
however, it may be well for all to be together and the 
songs of the little ones will certainly add much to 
the attractiveness of the occasion. 

Visits from the parents and others to the Kinder- 
garten should always be encouraged, but during the 
exercises the Kindergartner should devote her time 
exclusively to the children. If the visitors refrain 
from talking and laughing, their presence will cause 
no embarrassment to the little ones. 

It is desirable that meetings be held from time to 
time at which the mothers can discuss the work of 
the Kindergarten with the Kindergartner and her 
assistants, as they will be found of mutual benefit. 

If a party can occasionally be given for the chil- 
dren, the happy faces, as they join in the merry 
games and partake of simple refreshments, will show 
their enjoyment. 

xiii 



PRE FA CE 

Foremost among the many and rich compensations 
that come to a Sunday School Kindergartner is the 
loyal and devoted love of her children, since, in the 
words of Dickens, "It is not a slight thing when 
these little people who are so fresh from God love 
us." Nor is love alone given by them, but many 
sweet lessons in faith and trust are taught, so that 
all Kindergartners must feel, with Whittier, that 

"We need love's tender lessons taught 
As only weakness can; 
God hath His small interpreters, 
The child must teach the man. 

"We wander wide through evil years, 
Our eyes of faith grow dim; 
But he is freshest from his hands, 
And nearest unto Him! " 



xiv 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. 



The Kindergarten program should never be ster- 
eotyped. Frequent changes in the order of exercises, 
as well as new stories and songs, hold the interest of 
the children. The following outline, which I have 
used in my Kindergarten, is offered as a suggestion : 

1. Placing stars on roll-cards. 

2. Opening song — " Church Bells " or "Greeting Song." 

3. Hymn — " Morning Prayer." 

4. Prayer. 

" Father, we thank Thee for the night, 
And for the pleasant morning light; 
For rest and food and loving care, 
And all that makes the world so fair." 
Help us, dear Lord, to love Thee more 
Than we have ever loved before; 
Kind to all others may we be, 
Thus growing daily more like Thee. 

5. Good morning songs, chosen by the children. 

6. Birthday exercises. 

a. Pennies given. 

b. Birthday song. 

c. Birthday prayer: 

"We thank Thee, heavenly Father, 
For all the loving care, ^--^"^ 

That Thou hast given ( insert Ghlld's name ) , 

At home, and everywhere; 

For years Thou hast guarded him, 

Asleep, at work, at play; 
O Father, love and care for him, 
On this, and every day. 
Amen."* 

d. Birthday picture and note given. 

*Dsed by kind permission of the author, Anna L. Johnson. 

XV 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 

7. Cradle exercises. 

a. Placing card in Cradle-roll. 

b. Cradle song. 

8. March and collection. 

9. Prayer: 

" Bless the pennies that we bring Thee, 
Give them something sweet to do, 
May they help some child to love Thee; 
Jesus, may we love Thee, too." 

10. Review of last Sunday's lesson or talk. 

11. Song. 

12. Story for the day. 

13. Picture shown. 

14. New song. 

15. Good-bye song. 

16. March. 



NOTES. 
I. The roll-cards hang on the wall made thus 





October. 


November. 




5. 

* 


12. 

* 


19. 

* 


26. 

* 

* 


2. 
* 


9. 

* 
* 


16. 

* 

* 
* 


23. 
* 

* 

* 


30. 


Marian Edffell 


* 






Rog'er Dillon 








Harriet Odell 














Wilbur Curtis 


* 


* 




* 






Chester Holmes 









XVI 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 

Large manilla cards are divided into spaces one 
inch square for each Sunday during four months. 
The names are printed and each child, as he enters, 
4)uts a gold star in the space for the day, opposite his 
name. (The secretary superintends this.) At the 
end of the term, these cards are cut into strips and 
each child is given the strip bearing his name. This 
plan of keeping the roll may be followed in the 
Primary Department, as well, for even the older 
children enjoy placing the stars and taking the strips 
home later to show their record. The attendance 
of the children is carefully kept by the Kinder- 
gartner, also. 

2. ''Church Bells" is found in ''Song Stories for 
the Sunday School," by P. S. and M. J. Hill, page 
15, and, also, in "Songs and Hymns for the Primary 
Sunday School," by Frederica Beard, page 5. The 
"Greeting Song," by Hester Hoffman, is pubUshed 
by Blackmer Music Company. In singing "Church 
Bells," the motion of ringing the bells may be intro- 
duced and the arms may be outstretched to indicate 
the wide open doors. 

3. The "Morning Prayer," by Kate Douglas Wig- 
gin, found in "Childhood Songs," by Mira and 
Mabel Rowland, page 8, or the one on page 11, in 
the "Child's Garden of Song," by WilHam L. 
Tomlins, may be used. 

4. This prayer is adapted from the "Morning 
Hymn," found in "Songs and Games for Little 
Ones," by Misses Walker and Jenks, page 7. Per- 
fect quiet during the prayer is absolutely essential 
to awaken a spirit of reverence. If, as sometimes 
occurs, singing or other noise comes from an adjoin- 

xvii 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 

ing room, it is best to sit quietly with folded hands 
or listen to soft music on the piano, until it ceases. 

5. The children sing ''Good-morning to You" 
(tune, "Good-morning to All," in "Song Stories for, 
the Sunday School," page i ) , to the children, room, 
pictures, flowers, sunshine, etc. "Merry Christmas 
to You," "Happy New Year to You," and other 
greetings can be sung to the same tune, on special 
occasions. Another pretty good-morning song is 
"Morning Greeting," in "Song Stories for the Kin- 
dergarten," by M. J. and P. S. Hill, page 4. It is 
usually best to stand, when singing, and when giving 
the Good-morning songs, the hands may be joined 
to carry the greeting around the circle. 

6. During the birthday exercises, the child comes 
forward and stands by the Kindergartner. 

a. He drops into the birthday bank a penny for 
every year, the children counting each, as it falls. 
This is done the Sunday after the birthday has oc- 
curred. 

b. The "Birthday Song," by Reinecke, is found in 
"Songs for Little Children," by Eleanor Smith, 
volume 2, page 113, and also in "Songs and Hymns 
for the Primary Sunday School," page 32. 

d, Christ Blessing Little Children, by Plockhorst 
or Hofmann ; The Guardian Angel, by Plockhorst, 
or some other picture may be given on the birthday. 
If it is mounted on a gray card, wrapped in white 
tissue paper and tied with a bright ribbon, it makes 
a more attractive gift. A note inclosed, explaining 
the picture and expressing good wishes, would show 
the Kindergartner's interest. 



xvni 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 




7. The Cradle exercises are a very sweet feature 
of the Kindergarten. The Cradle-Roll can be 
procured at any religious bookstore. It bears 
this picture — The Cradle Song, by Lauerstein. 
With it come cards on which the names of the chil- 
dren, too young to enter the Kindergarten, can be 
printed. The name of the baby is announced to the 
children and then slipped into the Roll, after which 
the ''Cradle-Roll Song," found in "Primary and 
Junior Songs for the Sunday School," by Mari R. 
Hofer, page 44, is sung. If possible, the birthdays 
of the Cradle-Roll children should be kept in the 
same way as are those belonging to the Kinder- 
garten. 

8. Before the march, one child is chosen to lead, 
and another, to hold the basket. The latter stands 
in the center of the circle. The march is simple; 
the children passing around the outside of the circle, 
then in a straight line through the center, dropping 
in their pennies as they pass the basket, and then 
around the inside to their seats. Of course, this 
can be elaborated, if desired. It seems unwise to 



XIX 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 

introduce any motions, as these are apt to detract 
from the spirit of reverence. The march itself, is a 
sufficient rest. Sometimes the famihar songs, ''The 
Stream," from ''Merry Songs and Games," by Clara 
B. Hubbard, page 138, or "Dropping Pennies," from 
"Song and Study for God's Little Ones," by Bertha 
Vella, page 31, may be sung as the children march, 
but usually the piano alone furnishes the music. 

9. This prayer may be offered or sung. I do not 
know its author. 

10 and 13. The pictures may be passed about the 
circle at the close of the story, and, also, during the 
review, the following Sunday. They can then be 
put on the wall, with thumb tacks, where they make 
a pretty frieze and continually remind the children 
of the stories. In a general review, a number of 
children may be asked to point to their favorite pic- 
ture and tell something about it, or to find the 
pictures when Jesus was a Baby, Boy or Man, and 
give the story. All the pictures used as illustrations, 
with but few exceptions, can be bought, for one cent 
each, at any religious book-store. It is best to mount 
them on gray cards before showing them to the 
children. 

12. When the story is told, the children bring 
their chairs quietly as near as possible to the teacher, 
who is to give it, for it is thus easier to hold their 
attention. If the circle is small, this change of seats 
would not be necessary — my own numbers from 
forty to fifty, sometimes even more. It is desirable, 
however, to keep the attendance under forty-five. 
Sometimes, as a change, the children may sit on the 

XX 



A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 

Moor about the teacher to hear the story. It is well 
to have it occasionally told by the assistants, thus 
relieving the Kindergartner and creating a deeper 
impression than were it always given by the same 
person, 

15 and 16. The "Good-bye Song" may be adapted 
thus from "Songs of the Child World," by Jessie 
L. Gaynor, page no: 

Talks and songs are ended for another day, 
Now we must together take our homeward way, 
" So good-bye, dear children, may the Lord above 
Guard us while we're absent, with his tender love." 

Or this adaptation of the song on page 50, in the 
"Child's Garden of Song," by William L. Tomlins, 
may be used : 

"Good-bye! our songs are sung; 
Good-bye! our talks are done; 
Good-bye we now must say. 
So on its way, 
Our Sabbatli day has passed away." 

It may never be wise to follow this program ex- 
actly, for some exercises may consume so much time- 
that others must be shortened or omitted, but it is 
well to have an outline as a basis of work. 



XXI 



INTRODUCTION. 



Most of these stories have been given to the Httle 
children in my own Sunday School Kindergarten. 
When friends, who knew the time and thought that 
had been devoted to their preparation, urged me to 
share them with a wider circle, I at first hesitated; 
but at length decided to write for other children 
just as I had talked to my own. In telling each story, 
therefore, I have felt that the dear little people were 
gathered closely about me and that I was looking 
into their eager, upturned faces. 

In my Kindergarten, I used the stories based upon 
the prophecies regarding Christ as introductory ones 
in the fall, ending with the ''Joy in Harvest," on the 
Sunday preceding Thanksgiving. I then began upon 
the Christmas thought, continuing it through De- 
cember. From that time until Easter, incidents in 
the life of Christ which I felt would especially ap- 
peal to little children were given, it being arranged 
that the story of the Ascension should come on 
Easter Sunday. Then through the later spring and 
summer, the stories based upon Jesus' words and 
teachings were told. 

A number of other stories have now been added 
to these in order that each Kindergartner might 
choose the ones that would best meet the needs of 
her own children. 

xxiii 



INTRODUCTION 



They have been so arranged that they might, as 
far as possible, give the Hfe and words of Christ 
chronologically, in the belief that they would thus be 
more interesting for home use. 

A new revelation has come to me of the tender 
sympathy and wonderful love of the Saviour, as I 
have studied His life in order to bring it to His little 
ones. If I can help any of them to know Him better 
and to love Him more, my little book will have 
accomplished its mission. 

L. E. C. 



XXIV 



The author wishes to acknowledge her deep in- 
debtedness to Miss Ehzabeth Harrison, Principal of 
the Chicago Kindergarten College from whom she 
first obtained her interest in, and insight into, the 
beautiful work of the Kindergarten. 

She is also grateful for the kindly help given her 
by Miss Frederica Beard, in the especial study of 
the Sunday School Kindergarten. 

Much valuable assistance in the preparation of 
these stories has been obtained from the following : 

"The Life of Christ," and. "The Life of Lives," 
by Frederic W. Farrar, D. D., F. R. S. ; "The Life 
and Times of Jesus the Messiah," by Alfred Eder- 
sheim; "The Story of Jesus Christ," by Elizabeth 
Stuart Phelps, and "The Prince of Peace," by 
Isabella M. Alden (Pansy). 



XXV 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Preface ix 

A Kindergarten Program xv 

Introduction xxii 

Christ, the Shepherd 1 

Christ, our Rock 5 

The Light of the World 11 

Christ, the Leader 16 

"A Little Child Shall Lead Them" 20 

The Life-Giving Rain 25 

The Joy in Harvest 29 

The Best Gift 33 

The Birth of the Christ Child 38 

The Christmas Story in Music 44 

The Christmas Party 51 

The Visit of the Wise Men 57 

The Flight into Egypt 64 

The Childhood of Jesus 68 

The Scene in the Temple 73 

The Home Life of Jesus 78 

The Baptism of Jesus 82 

The Temptation of Jesus 86 

Christ and His Disciples 90 

The Wedding at Cana 96 

The Great Physician 100 

The Poor in Spirit 105 

The Sorrowful 113 

The Merciful 117 

The Pure in Heart 124 

The Peacemakers 130 

"Ye are the Light" 136 



XXVll 



CONTENTS 



PAGE. 

The Birds 141 

Ruth's Easter Lily 148 

"Judge Not" 154 

The Golden Rule 158 

The Two Builders 163 

The Sabbath 167 

The Widow's Son 171 

The Sower 176 

Different Kinds of Fruit 182 

Stilling the Tempest 187 

The Daughter of Jairus 191 

Sir Launfal 195 

Feeding the Multitude 201 

A Cup of Cold Water 205 

The Lost Lamb :........ 208 

The Good Samaritan 214 

Prayer 219 

How to Pray 224 

The Hospital Party 229 

Teddy's Free Day 236 

The Prodigal Son 242 

Jesus and the Children 246 

Christ in Zacchaeus' House 250 

The Friends of Jesus 254 

Christ Entering Jerusalem 258 

The Widow's Mite 262 

Tlie Kind Mother Hen 266 

The Wise Pansy 274 

The Talents 278 

"The Least of These" 283 

The Beautiful Vision 288 

Jesus and His Mother 292 

Christ's Farewell to His Disciples 296 

The Good Shepherd's Wonderful Love 300 

Jesus' Return to Heaven 302 

"I am with You Alwav" 306 



XXVlll 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



ARTIST. PAGE. 

Christ Blessing Little Children Plockhorst . . . Frontispiece 

The Cradle Song Laueistein xix 

Jesus and the Child Ballheim 2 

Queen Louise and her Sons . . . Steffeck 6 

Head of Christ (From Christ 

and the Rich Young Man ) . . Hofmann 12 

"On the Way to Emmaus Plockhorst 17 

The Christ Child Ittenbach 21 

Spring Knaus 26 

Harvesters' Return Seifert 30 

The Annunciation to Mary . . . .Hofmann 34 

Arrival of the Shepherds Lerolle 3S 

The Angels and the Shepherds Plockhorst 45 

The Nativity Carl Muller 52 

Worship of the Magi Hofmann 58 

Flight into Egypt Hofmann 65 

Infancy of Christ Hoffnann 69 

Christ in the Temple Hofmann 74 

Head of Christ ( From Christ 

in the Temple ) Hofm,ann 79 

The Jordan From a Photograph 83 

Head of Christ Hofw^ann 87 

Calling of Matthew Alexandre Bida. ... 91 

Marriage at Cana Dore 97 

Healing the Sick Hoffnann 101 

Dante From, a Medallion . . 106 

Christ the Consoler Plockhorst 114 

"Kiss Me" '. Holmes 118 

Sir Galahad Watts 125 

Going Home from School Bouguereau 131 

A Little Light From a Photograph 137 

xxix 



LIS T OF ILL US TRA TIONS 



ARTIST. PAGE. 

Sparrows Laux 142 

Lilies From a Photograph 149 

"Always Tell the Truth" Faed 155 

Child's Head (From Children 

Playing ) Vogel 159 

The Sermon on the Mount . . . .Hofmann 164 

Jesus and His Disciples 

Going through Cornfield Dore 168 

Raising the Widow's Son Hofnian7i 172 

The Parable of the Sower H. L. Robert 177 

Grapes From a Photograph 183 

"Peace, be Still" Dare 188 

Daughter of Jairus Hofmann 192 

Castle of Stolzenfels From a Photograph 196 

Christ Feeding the Multitude . . Murillo 202" 

The Three Friends Elizabeth Gardner . . 206 

The Lost Sheep Molitor 209 

The Good Samaritan Plockhorst 215 

Christ in Gethsemane Hofmann 220 

Samuel Sir Joshua Reynolds 225 

Dear Little Folk Papperitz 230 

Head of Child Greuze 237 

The Prodigal Son Molitor 243 

Christ Blessing Little Children Hofnann 247 

The Marriage Feast Paolo Veronese 251 

Bethany Hofnann 255 

Entry into Jerusalem Plockhorst 259 

The Widow's Mite Dor'e 263 

Two Mothers and their Families Elizabeth Gardner. . 267 

Pansies From> a Photograph 275 

The Pet Bird Meyer Von Br em-en 279 

Giovanni Carlo Dolci 284 

Saint Anthony of Padua (detail )i^wrz7/6' 289 

Christ Taking Leave of His 

Mother Plockhorst 293 

The Last Supper Da Vinci 297 

The Good Shepherd Plockhorst 300 

Ascension of Christ Bierman 303 

The Omnipresence of Christ. . . Hofmann 307 

XXX 



SUBJECT— CHRIST, THE SHEPHERD. 

Isaiah 40 :ii . 
Picture— JESUS AND THE CHILD— Ballheim. 

Songs— THE GOOD SHEPHERD," 

(From ^'Primary and Junior Songs for the Sunday School,'"'' — Mart 
R. Hofer, page jo. ) 

AND *'HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD." 

{^From HandeT s '■'■ Messiah.'"'' — This to be sung to the children.^ 



STORY. 



Many, many years ago, children, there was a great 
deal of sorrow and trouble in the world. Some men, 
who were called kings, were very strong and power- 
ful and every one else had to work for them and do 
what they wished. These kings were often unkind 
and cruel and made the people very unhappy. 

In those days dear Jesus had not come to the 
earth to show how much better it was to be loving 
and kind. The last part of the Bible, our best Book, 
which tells about His life here, had not been written ; 
but in the first part the people read that some day 
He would come to help them. When they felt they 
could bear their troubles no longer, they would read 
about His coming and it wpuld make them feel 
rested and strong again. The Bible told them how 
much God loved them and promised that Jesus 
would bring them joy and happiness, and would 
keep them safe from all trouble and danger. 

I 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

He was called by many beautiful names, but I 
think the one the people loved best was that of Shep- 
herd. In that country there were many sheep and 
the shepherds would lead them over the hills until 




they came to a place where there was fresh, green 
grass, which they loved to eat. While they were 
feeding, the shepherd would rest under the trees and 
perhaps he would play pretty tunes on his pipe, or 
flute. 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Do you know, children, that though there were 
many shepherds, who often went out together, every 
sheep knew its own shepherd's voice. If one called, 
only his own sheep would follow him, just as you 
would run to mamma, did she call, but if you heard 
a stranger's voice, you would perhaps run away, 
because you would not know who it was. 

After the sheep had stayed out on the hills all day, 
eating the grass or resting in the shade, the kind 
shepherd would lead them home at night. He would 
then put them in a large sheepcot, or shed, where no 
wild animal could hurt them and where they would 
not get wet or cold, if it stormed. 

The shepherds loved their sheep and took such 
tender care of them. If a little lamb became tired, 
the kind shepherd would carry it in his arms and if 
the sheep were sick, he would lead them gently so 
they might not find the hills too hard to climb. He 
knew them all and should one get lost, he would 
search until he found it, even though he had to go a 
long way over a rough road. 

It made the people glad to know that, when Jesus 
came. He would be like one of these kind shepherds. 
Who do you think the sheep would be? Yes, the 
grown people and the little lambs would be the dear 
little children. 

I want to read you some sweet words from the 
Bible which tell about Jesus as a Shepherd. *'He" 
(that is Jesus) "shall feed His flock like a shep- 
herd" (that means He shall take them where they 
can get food to eat). "He shall gather the lambs 
with His arm, and carry them in His bosom." I told 

3 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

you how the shepherd would take the httle lambs 
up in his arms, if they were tired or sick, and the 
Bible said that Jesus would thus take little children 
and hold and love them. Then it said, "He shall 
gently lead those that are weak." Do you wonder 
that the people loved to read these words and do 
you not think they longed for Jesus to come ? 



SUBJECT— CHRIST. OUR ROCK. 

Isaiah J2 :2. 

Picture— QUEEN LOUISE AND HER SONS- 

Steffeck. 



STORY. 



You know I told you last Sunday, children, of the 
time, long, long ago, before Jesus had come to the 
world. The people were so sad and in such trouble 
that they longed for Christ to come to help them. 
I told you, too, of the beautiful names that the Bible 
gave to Jesus. What name did we talk about last 
Sunday? Yes, the Shepherd. Jesus was to be the 
Good Shepherd and take as loving care of grown 
people and little children as the shepherd did of the 
sheep and dear little lambs. 

To-day I want to tell you another of these beauti- 
ful names which the Bible calls Jesus. Long before 
He came, it said: "He shall be as an hiding place 
from the wind, a covert" (or place of safety) "from 
the tempest, and as the shadow of a great rock in a 
weary land." 

I wonder how many of you have seen great rocks. 
One year I spent the summer by the sea, away up 
north in Maine, and I wish you might have seen the 
immense rocks that lay piled up along the shore. 

5 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

When it was windy and cold, my mother and I 
would find a little corner where a tall rock rose up 
"behind us and shielded us so entirely from the wind 
that it would be nice and warm. 




When the storms came, the great waves would 
dash against the rocks, the beautiful white spray 
rising high in the air, but I think the rocks said: 
■"You are strong, oh, sea, and your waves have great 
power, but we are still stronger and you cannot get 

6 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

to the land, for we will protect it from you, keeping 
the people and their homes safe." 

I loved to think that dear Jesus was like those 
great rocks and that He would keep us just as safe 
from all harm, as the rocks kept the houses and the 
little tiowers that grew in the gardens. Would you 
like me to tell you a story to-day of a great rock 
which helped some little boys ? 

Once upon a time there were two little boys named 
Frederick and William. They lived far away from 
here near the sea, where many rocks were to be 
found. Near the road rose a great, tall rock that 
the boys loved to play was their house, for under 
one side was a hole, or shelf, which was like a little 
room. They couldn't both get into it at once, so 
they would take turns in staying there. 

The boys were always so glad to have their dear 
mother play with them. She told them such fine 
stories of the crabs, which ran in such a funny way, 
backwards and sideways ; of the star fish, with their 
five fingers; of the strange, soft jelly fish, and of 
other curious sea things. 

One day she took them for a long walk. As you 
see in the picture, she had an arm around Will's 
shoulder, while Fred clasped her arm. They had 
such a good time together that they went farther 
than they expected and suddenly they saw that great 
black clouds were covering the sky and it looked 
like rain. They turned and hurried back home as 
fast as possible, but when they were still quite a 

7 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



way off, the big drops began to fall. The boys said : 
"Oh, Mamma, if we can only get a little farther, 
we'll come to our rock and that will keep us dry." 

They ran on and soon they reached it and to their 
joy they found that Will could slip into the little 
room and mamma and Fred creep under the jutting 
side and all be quite protected from the storm. The 
thunder pealed and the lightning flashed, but they 
were quite safe. It was such fun to hear the wind 
whistle and howl and know that it could not harm 
them. Fred cried out : ''Blow all you please, old 
wind, our dear big rock won't let you hurt us." 

The rain, too, though it came pouring down, 
didn't wet them, as the rock made a nice, dry place. 
After awhile the thunder died away, the wind blew 
less violently and, little by little, the rain stopped 
falling. Then mamma, Fred and Will started again 
for home, the boys first calling out : "Thank you, 
old rock, you've been a good friend to us." 

When they reached home, their mother said, 
"Would you like to learn a verse about a rock? 
Fred and Will said, "Yes, indeed," and mamma 
taught them the verse I have read to you : Jesus 
"shall be as an hiding place from the wind, a covert 
from the tempest, and as the shadow of a great 
rock in a wxary land." 

One afternoon, some little time after this. Will 
was playing down by the sea. He was gathering 
shells and he went farther and farther from home. 
At last he found he was so far away that he turned 
to run back again. As he was hurrying along, he 
heard a loud, rumbling noise. He looked back and 

8 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



there he saw a great bull coming toward him. It 
was one that was usually kept shut up in a field, but 
in some way it had broken loose. Will was terribly 
frightened for the big creature had his head down 
and Will knew that he would toss him and perhaps 
kill him. He ran and ran, but the bull ran still 
faster and was rapidly gaining upon him. Will 
thought : "What shall I do ! He will certainly catch 
me before I get home." 

He prayed to God, as he ran, "Oh, God, save me ! 
save me !" 

Just then the words of the verse he had learned 
came into his mind, "A rock ^' ''^ '*'' shall be a 
hiding place," and just ahead he saw the' big rock 
where he often played. He thought, "I knew God 
Avould help me and when I come to that rock, I shall 
be safe." 

He ran faster than ever until he reached it, and 
just as the bull came tearing up behind him, he 
slipped into the little hole. The bull went racing 
around, looking everywhere for him. He couldn't 
understand where the little boy had disappeared, but 
at last he saw him, hidden away in the great rock. 
He tried so hard to get at him, but he couldn't even 
get one horn into the hole. He bellowed and bel- 
lowed, stamped his feet and pawed the ground, but 
all in vain ; he couldn't reach the little boy. 

Will was still trembling and out of breath from his 
fright and run, but oh, how safe he felt in the big 
rock ! He knew that he need not be troubled any 
more, for, if the bull did not go away soon, papa 
would come to find him. 

9 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Sure enough, after awhile, as it began to grow 
dark, mamma began to wonder where Will was. 
She went to the door and looking far down the 
road, she saw the great bull near the rock. She 
didn't know Will was there, but she called papa, say- 
ing, "Come quickly; Mr. Jones' great bull is loose!" 

Papa and some other men went out to drive the 
bull back into the pasture. As they came near the 
rock, little Will called out, "Papa, Papa, Pm in 
here." 

Just think how surprised papa was ! Will told 
him how the bull had chased him and how he had 
hidden in the little room. Papa was so thankful and 
said, "The great rock has indeed saved my dear little 
boy from a terrible death." 

When Will reached home, he found mamma wait- 
ing for him and as he ran into her arms, he said, 
"Oh, Mamma, the big rock was such a nice hiding 
place, just as the verse said." 



TO 



SUBJECT— THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 

Isaiah g :2 ; Malachi ^ :2 ; Ntmibers 2^ .-ly. 
Picture— HEAD OF CHRIST— 

{From ^^ Christ and the Rich Toung Man.^^) — Hofmann. 

Song— "WHEN THE LITTLE CHILDREN SLEEP." 

(From ^^ A Primer of Vocal Music ^''^ — Eleanor Smithy also in Carl Reinecke^s 
' ' Fifty Children h Songs. ''^) 



STORY. 



Children, will you all shut your eyes tight for just 
a moment? Now open them. What did you see 
when they were closed? Nothing? It was all 
dark ? What can you see at night ? It is dark then, 
too, is it not ? What gives us light during the day ? 
Yes, the sun. I want you to tell me some of the 
things the sun does for us. It gives us the light to 
see the beautiful flowers and vines, the grass and 
trees. 

Do you know that it does even more than this ? 
Everything that grows gets its color from the sun. 
Sometimes you must ask mamma to plant a seed in 
a dark closet. (A bean is suggested, as it grows 
quickly.) If you give it water, it will grow, but it 
will be almost white and will look sickly and miser- 
able. Now, if 3^ou put it in the sunlight, the stalk 
and leaves will turn green and the plant will grow 

II 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

strong and beautiful. So you see that the sun is an 
artist, or painter, and sends his color fairies to paint 
the blossoms and bushes, grass and trees. What 
color do they paint the roses ; the buttercups ; the 




violets ? Isn't it nice that the great, round sun makes 
the earth so beautiful for us to enjoy. 

It not only gives the lovely colors to the flowers 
and trees, but it also helps them to grow, as you 
saw when you planted the seed. Whom else do you 

12 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

think it helps ? Why yes, it keeps the animals strong 
and well — the kitties, dogs, horses and all the others. 
It helps people, too — grown people and little chil- 
dren. Doesn't it make you happy to play out in the 
bright sunshine and wouldn't it be hard if the sun 
could not be seen and you had only rainy days all 
the time? 

Then besides giving us light the sun makes us 
warm, does it not? Some days 'tis so cold in the 
morning, but after you play in the sunshine for a 
little while, you get as warm as toast. 

Can you tell me on whom the sun shines ? Does 
it send the sunbeams down on just a few people and 
leave every one else in the dark and the cold? Are 
only a few little flowers helped to grow ? Why, no, 
indeed ! When the sun shines, it gives light and 
warmth and beauty to everything. The great sun 
doesn't say, ''There's a little girl who has been 
naughty in that yard and I won't shine on her ;" or, 
*'I don't like that farmer and I won't help his corn 
and wheat to grow." Instead it tries to make the 
whole world bright and beautiful. 

You know, children, we have been talking of the 
names which the Bible calls Jesus. Long before He 
came to this world, the people used to read about 
Him and wish He might come. In one place you 
know they read that He would be like a kind, gentle 
shepherd and last Sunday we found He would be 
like a strong rock, which would protect them from 
all harm. To-day I want to tell you some more of 
these beautiful names by which He is called. 



13 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The poor people in those far away times had not 
known how to go ; it seemed as if they had been 
walking in the dark. But just think how glad they 
were to read these words, "The people that walked 
in darkness shall see a great light." They knew that 
Jesus would be this light. 

In another place the Bible said He should be like 
the sun which made them well and strong. Isn't He 
like the sun in many, many ways, for He makes us 
happy and when we love Him, everything looks 
bright to us. 

You know that the sun shines only by day, but is 
it always dark at night when you go out of doors? 
No, sometimes we have the beautiful moonlight. 
Have you been down by the ocean or lake when the 
soft moonbeams fell upon the water, making a path- 
way of shining silver? I like to think that Jesus 
gives us light just as the golden sun does by day and 
the silver moon bv nisrht. 

What else can we see in the sky at night besides 
the moon? Yes, the stars. They look pretty up in 
the sky, do they not? And we wonder what they 
are saying to each other. They seem like little chil- 
dren coming to a great party, where they twinkle 
and dance and have such a good time, and we sing 
to them : 

''Twinkle, twinkle, little star, 
How I wonder wdiat you are ! 
Up above the world so high, 
Like a diamond in the sky."''' 

*From "Songs for Little Children," Eleanor Smith, page 97. 

14 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

But they do more than just look pretty. Do you 
know that the sailors away out at sea can look up 
at the stars and tell just which way to go. There is 
one star that always shines brightly in the north 
and others in other parts of the sky, which show 
them where they are. Another of Jesus' beautiful 
names is the Star. If we ask Him, He will always 
show us the right way, as the stars show the sailors. 

When we look up at the sun, children, let us re- 
member that Jesus is our Sun, and at night, when 
the stars come out, one by one, we can say, "He is 
our Star." 

To-day I have such a beautiful picture of Jesus to 
show you and I want you to remember, as you look 
at it, that He is the light of the whole world. 



15 



SUBJECT— CHRIST, THE LEADER. 

Isaiah jj .•/ / Luke i :yg. 
Picture— ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS— Plockhorst. 

Song— "GOD THE FATHER IN HEAVEN." 

( From '■'■Childhood Songs,^'' — Alira and Mabel Roivlatid, page ^J.) 



STORY. 



I told you, children, last Sunday, that the light — 
the sunlight in the day time and the moon and stars 
by night — showed us where to go. But sometimes, 
if we are in a strange place where we have never 
been before, we may lose our way. 

I read once of a man who went to visit some 
friends, living in a camp in the deep woods. He 
stopped at a small hotel and from there some one 
went with him to show him the way to his friends' 
camp. 

When he had spent several days with them, he 
said he must return home. His friends started to 
walk through the woods with him, but when they 
had gone most of the way, he said : "I know you 
are busy and 'tis such a plain path, I'm sure I can 
easily find the hotel at the end of the woods ; so go 
back to your work." 

His friends thought he would have no trouble, so 
they said good-bye and went back to their camp. 
The man went on a little farther, when he missed the 

i6 



KIND ERGARTEN STORIES 



path. He looked and looked, but he could not find it 
and he knew that he was lost. He wandered deeper 
and deeper into the forest and shouted again and 
again, but no one heard him. At last he became 




very much frightened, for he feared that he would 
never see his home again. 

The next day his friends found that they had no 
more oil, so two of them started to the village for it. 
They walked through the woods and when they 

17 



KINDERGARTEN. STORIES 

reached the small hotel where the man was to spend 
the night, they asked if he had started for home. 

''Why, I haven't seen him," said the hotel keeper, 
"I though he was still with you." 

His friends were very much surprised and 
troubled and started at once to search for him. All 
that day they hunted and hunted through the great 
forest, calling and firing a pistol, so the man might 
hear its sound. Toward night, as they were almost 
discouraged, they shouted once more, ''Halloo ! 
halloo !" 

As they listened, they though they heard a faint 
answer. They hurried to the spot from which it 
seemed to come and there they found their friend. 
But, children, they could hardly believe it was he ! 
His clothes were torn by the bushes and dirty from 
many falls. His face was pale from fear and hunger 
and he looked very ill. 

They took hirh back to the hotel and cared tenderly 
for him, until he was quite well again. Oh, how 
sorry they felt that they had not led him all the way 
out of the woods at first, instead of letting him try 
to find the path alone. 

I have told you, children, how much people loved 
to read the beautiful names given to Jesus in the 
Bible, before He came to this earth. One of these 
was the Leader. The Bible said that Jesus would 
show people just where to go, so they need never 
lose their way. 

Even though you were in a strange place, in a 
crowded city or on a lonely country road, if you had 
tight hold of your papa's hand, you would not be 

i8 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

afraid, I am sure. You would know that he would 
take good care of you. The Bible said that Jesus 
would "guide the feet of His people into the way of 
peace," which means that if they followed Him, He 
would lead them where they would be safe and 
happy here and would bring them at last to be with 
Him in heaven. 

In the picture you can see dear Jesus telling two 
of His friends that He would be their Leader and 
show them the way in which to go. 



19 



SUBJECT— "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD 

THEM." 

Isaiah ii :6. 
Picture— CHRIST CHILD— Ittenbach. 

{^Use ifpossiblcy the picture called: ^'■A Little Child Shall Lead Them^''^ by 

William Strutt.) 



STORY. 

Once in a great forest there lived many wild 
animals ; among them were lions, wolves, leopards 
and bears. The tawny lion, with his shaggy mane 
and great body, had been chosen king by all of them. 
You would have called him cruel, children, because 
he often killed other animals. But it was his nature 
to do so and he usually ate those he killed for his 
food. If he was not hungry, he would sometimes 
be merciful to a smaller animal. I am sure you all 
know how kind he was once in letting the little 
mouse go free. 

When he was pleased, his tail was still and he 
would fawn upon his mate or another animal that 
he liked, just as a kitty would rub against you to 
show how glad she was to see you. But when he was 
angry, he was dreadful to see. He would beat the 
ground with his tail and lash his sides in his fury. 
Then he would give a loud roar and bound forward, 
striking his enemy a terrible blow. 

20 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



He was so strong that he could carry a large 
animal in his mouth and run a long way with it. 
Dark, stormy nights were the times he liked best to 
go out to find his food. He was very tender and 




kind to his mate, the mamma lion, and helped her 
find food for the little cubs, which were like big, 
frolicsome kittens. 

Another of the forest animals was the leopard. 
He was very different from the great, noble lion, 

21 



KINDERGAR TEN STORIES 

as he was sly and cruel. He would climb a tree like 
a monkey, hide among the branches and then spring 
down on any animal that chanced to pass. He was 
very quick, active and strong, and more dangerous 
than the lion or tiger. He would prowl about in the 
night, keeping a careful watch lest any one should 
see him. Then he would suddenly spring upon a 
poor kid, cow or calf and tear it to pieces. 

I want to tell you a story I read of a leopard who 
did not succeed in getting the little calf he wanted. 
In a shed near the house of a blacksmith, was a cow 
and her little calf. One night a great leopard 
climbed upon the roof of this shed, which was made 
of thatch, or dried grass, and scratched and scratched 
until he had made a hole in it. But the cow heard 
the noise and when the leopard crept down through 
the hole, she caught him on her long pointed horns. 

The noise of the dreadful struggle which followed 
awoke the blacksmith, who came quickly with a 
lantern. The cow had tossed the leopard to and fro 
until he was almost dead, so eager was she to pro- 
tect her little calf which lay nestled in a corner. It 
was fast asleep and did not know how hard its 
mother was fighting to save its life. When the 
blacksmith reached the shed, he quickly shot the 
leopard and the poor cow was glad the dreadful 
battle was over. 

The animals which lived on the farm had many 
enemies and the farmers had to protect them very 
carefully. The wolf was another of these enemies 
that was always ready to spring upon a dog, a little 
lamb or some other animal. Like the lion and leop- 

22 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



ard, wolves would rest in a safe hiding place during 
the day, but at night they would run long distances, 
searching for food. In the summer time they would 
usually stay in the forest, but when winter came, 
they would prowl around the farm, trying to catch 
some animal. They would howl when they were 
hungry or cold, and you would have been very much 
frightened, had you heard their dreadful cry. 

One time to the forest came a dear little Child. I 
wish you might have seen Him, children. He had 
such a sweet lovely face ; a little rosebud mouth, 
bright shining eyes and fair hair that curled about 
His head. He was dressed in a simple white robe, 
like a little nightgown, with flowing sleeves and a 
tiny band of color about the neck. 

When He reached the forest, He called to the 
animals : "Come, king lion ; come, wolf and leopard 
and bear ; follow me." 

They came bounding to Him and He led them to- 
ward the farm. Here He called the calves, the little 
lamb, the kid and others, and they, also, quickly 
came to Him. The wild animals did not want to 
hurt them, for they had grown gentle and kind when 
the little Child came and they felt they should never 
again be cruel, and wish to kill others. 

The little Child, carrying a waving palm branch, 
walked on slowly, His arm thrown lovingly over the 
big bossie's head who was at His side. At the other 
side walked king lion, tall and majestic, who looked 
down at the little Child and rubbed his big head 
against Him, trying to say how much he loved Him. 

23 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Near him was the wolf, with his pointed ears and 
long sharp face, while just in front was the little 
white lamb. The wolf did not want to hurt him; 
instead he seemed glad to have such a dear little 
playmate. Another calf followed the little Child, 
looking wonderingly toward Him, as if it seemed too 
good to be true that He should come to lead them 
all ; while still farther back came the big black bear. 

The spotted leopard had decided to take a nap, so 
he had laid his great head upon his paws and gone 
fast asleep. Curled up close beside him lay the cun- 
ning little kid, no longer afraid that the big paws of 
the leopard, with their cruel claws, would tear him 
to pieces. 

All about, the sweet flowers lifted their bright 
faces as if they, too, rejoiced that peace had come to 
all the world. 

The Bible told the people, children, that when 
Jesus came, He would bring peace, as the little Child 
did. Men who are unkind and cruel like the wild 
animals, should learn from Him to be gentle, un- 
selfish and loving. Are we not glad that dear Jesus 
has come? And we hope that soon peace and love 
will be found all over the world. 



24 



SUBJECT— THE LIFE-GIVING RAIN. 

Psalm ^2 :6. 
Picture— SPRING— Knaus. 

Song — "SPRING RAIN," first and second verses, 

[From '^ Songs for Little Children^'''' — Eleanor Smithy •volume 2^ page "^S.) 

OR "LOVING AND GIVING," first verse, 
(From ^'■Song and Study for God'' s Little Ones,^'' — Bertha Vella^ 

page 26.) 



STORY. 

You remember, children, that we have been talk- 
ing these past weeks of the beautiful names which 
were given to Jesus before He came to this earth. 
You know the Bible said He would be a Good Shep- 
herd, taking loving care of the people as a shepherd 
does of his sheep and lambs. He would also be like 
a great rock that gives shelter from storms, and He 
would be the Light of the World, giving light like 
the sun and the stars. Then He would be the Leader 
who would show every one where to go, and last 
Sunday we heard that He would bring peace, as the 
little Child did to all the forest and farm animals. 

To-day I wish to read you a verse which tells of 
something else He would be like. "He shall come 
down like rain upon the mown grass ; as showers 
that water the earth." Who can tell me what the 
rain does ? Yes, it waters the flowers, the grass and 
trees, and helps them to grow. 

25 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



I want to tell you of some little flowers which 
were out in a meadow. The sunbeams came shining 
down upon them, the gentle raindrops brought them 
refreshing drink, and they grew lovelier and lovelier 





as the days passed. They were so sweet and fresh 
that the bees and butterflies loved to flit about them, 
sucking honey from their little cups. Children, too, 
came sometimes and danced gaily over the meadow, 
gathering great bunches of the lovely blossoms 

26 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

which they carried home as a surprise for their dear 
mothers. 

But one time for many days no rain fell. Each 
morning the little flowers would lift their sweet faces 
toward the sky, hoping they might see a cloud which 
would send the raindrops to them. But only the sun- 
beams came and these were so bright and hot that 
they wilted the poor little thirsty flowers. At last 
one whispered to another : ''I fear I shall die unless 
the rain comes soon ; I feel so parched and dry." 

Its little head drooped lower and lower, but just 
then it felt a tiny drop of water. Oh, how glad it 
was for it knew others would follow. Sure enough, 
splash came a bigger drop, then another and another. 
Faster and faster they fell until the whole meadow 
was soaked with rain. They refreshed and strength- 
ened the flowers so they could lift up their drooping 
heads. They washed ofl: the dust, also, which had 
gathered upon the blossoms, making them pure and 
sweet again. 

Not the flowers only, but every tree and bush and 
each little blade of grass was made happy by the 
cool, fresh drink the raindrops gave. They helped 
others, too, for they filled up the little brooks and 
streams, which had run almost dry during the long 
hot weeks. This made the sheep and cattle happy 
for they could now have a nice drink, and the cows 
could wade in the water and get cool. 

People, also, were helped by the rain, for this 
water was so pleasant to wash and bathe in that 
every one was glad to have it. So the flowers, the 

27 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

animals and the people were all made happy by the 
raindrops. 

The Bible said that dear Jesus would be like the 
rain, making people clean and pure and helping them 
to grow strong and happy. 



28 



SUBJECT— THE JOY IN HARVEST. 

Isaiah q :j. 
Picture— HARVESTERS' RETURN— Seifert. 

Song— "THANKSGIVING SONG," 

{^From ^^ Songs for Liitle Children^^'' "volume 2^ p^gf ^3-) 

OR "THANKSGIVING SONG," 

[From **Songs of the Child World.'''' — Jeme L. Gaynor^ page 67.) 



STORY. 

(This story is planned for the Sunday preceding 
Thanksgiving. ) 

Children, do you remember how much the people 
loved to read in the Bible of the kind, helpful things 
Jesus would do when He came to this earth? In 
one place they read that when He came, every one 
would be as glad as the harvesters, or farmers, are 
at the time of harvest. 

Can you tell me what the farmers do in the 
spring? Yes, they plow the fields and then plant 
the seed — wheat or corn or oats — which grows all 
through the long summer. First the delicate green 
shoots appear, then the tall stalks and at last the 
yellow grain. Then in the fall the farmers cut it 
down and take it to the barns and as they gather in 
the last load, they sing and shout for joy. 

In our picture you see that the women, too, have 
been helping in the fields and before coming joyously 

29 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



home, they have trimmed the last big load of hay 
with a great wreath. I think that when they reach 
home, they will all go into the big barn and have a 
party, where they will dance and sing to show how 




happy they are that their work is all done and that 
everything is in the barn ready for winter. 

Children, we, too, are to have a party this week. 
Who can tell me what we call our holiday? Yes, 
Thanksgiving. It comes just at this time that we 
may be glad with the farmers that the rich harvest 
is gathered into the barns. Can you tell me what 
Thanksgiving means? Yes, just what it says, giv- 
ing thanks, or thanks-giving. 

Now can you tell me what you have, for which 
you wish to give thanks? Let us remember to-day 
what has been growing out of doors to make us 

30 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

happy. Can 3^011 tell me of something? Yes, the 
red and yellow apples have been growing sweet and 
juicy all through the summer. And now they are 
all picked and packed in barrels and perhaps a big 
barrel is in your cellar. 

Whom do we thank for the apples ? Many people, 
do we not? — the farmers who watched their growth 
and gathered them ; the men on the train who 
brought them from the country; the grocers who 
sold them ; and last of all papa or mamma who 
bought them for us. Then what helped them to 
grow on the trees ? The dear heavenly Father. It 
is He who gives us all good things to enjoy and 
whom we should thank most of all. 

Can you tell me other things He has given us? 
Who can tell me what grows in the farmers' fields? 
Yes, oats, from which oatmeal is made, that we like 
for our breakfast; wheat, from which we get our 
bread ; and corn wdiich we use in many things. Then 
there are the vegetables — the yellow squashes and 
the great golden pumpkins, the red beets, white 
turnips, green cucumbers and all the others."^ Oh, 
how many good things have been given to us ! 

But better than even these are the people God has 
given us to love; our papas and mammas, our 
brothers and sisters, and all our dear friends. I am 
sure we should be very happy at this Thanksgiving 
time and we should thank the dear heavenly Father 
for all His goodness to us. 



*Draw these names or others from the children, if pos- 
sible. It may be better to have them whisper in the Kinder- 
Rartner's ear, if they are timid about expressing- their 
thoughts. 

31 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Before you go home I want to ask if you do not 
know of some one whom you could make happy on 
Thanksgiving day? Ask mamma if she knows of 
any one who is too poor to have a nice dinner, to 
whom you could carry something. Or perhaps you 
could give a rosy apple or an orange to the postman 
when he brings the letters, or to the milkman when 
he comes with the milk. Try to tell me next Sunday 
of some one whom you made happy. 



32 



SUBJECT— THE BEST GIFT. 

Luke 1 :26-§6. 
Picture— THE ANNUNCIATION TO MARY— 

HOFMANN. 

Song— "CHRISTMAS HYMN," (music only.) 

{From '■'■Songs for Little Children^'''' •volume i, page ji: also in '■'■Songs 
and Hymns for the Primary Sunday SchooP'' — Frederica Beard, page 2^. 
As the birth of Christ is described in the folloiving story , the ivords of the 
"Christmas Hymn^ ivould more appropriately be given then^ but it ivould 
be IV ell for the children to become familiar nuith the music.) 



STORY. 



(This story is planned for the Sunday following 
Thanksgiving. Its material is drawn from "The 
Story of Jesus Christ," by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.) 

What holiday have we had this past week, chil- 
dren ? Yes, Thanksgiving. Can you tell me why we 
keep this day? (Draw out the answer that we give 
thanks to God for His gifts to us.) Would you like 
me to tell you of the best gift that was ever given to 
little children and to grown people, also? 

Once upon a time, many, many years ago, in a 
little town called Nazareth, some women came to a 
fountain to draw water. Now we have water in our 
homes you know, but at that time people had to go 
to the fountains, or wells, to get it and often had to 
carry it a long way. 

^ 33 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

It was growing late when the women came for the 
water and the sun was bidding the world, ''Good 
night," by painting the sky the loveliest colors — 
crimson, gold and palest yellow. The soft light lay 




on the hills that rose high about the little town as if 
they would protect it from all danger. Most of the 
women did not notice the beautiful colors. They 
talked and laughed as one by one they filled their 
urns, or jars, with water. 

34 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

But one young woman, so young she seemed al- 
most a girl, stood a little apart from the others and 
quietly enjoyed all the beauty about her. She 
watched the changing colors in the sky and she saw, 
also, the blossoms on the trees and the lovely flowers 
that lifted their bright faces to smile into hers. She, 
too, seemed like a sweet, pure flower. She was tall, 
with golden hair and dark blue eyes and her lovely 
face showed that she always had beautiful thoughts. 

After filling her urn, she placed it upon her head 
and walked so steadily that not a drop was spilled. 
It was the hour of prayer, for, when the sun went 
down, every one thanked God for all the blessings He 
had sent. Mary, that was this sweet woman's name, 
walked home slowly, thinking of God's goodness to 
her. When she reached the house, she quietly 
poured the water into a jar that stood near the door 
and then, without speaking, went up to the roof. 

In that country, as the houses were small, the 
people would often go up to the flat roofs when they 
wished to rest or be alone. Vines were growing on 
the roof of Mary's home and tall, white lilies raised 
their lovely heads. As Mary bent over them, she 
fancied that the beautiful flowers were praying and 
she knelt down among them. God seemed very 
near, so near He could know her thoughts and she 
need speak no word. 

While kneeling, she heard the movement of the 
soft wings of a dove flying near, and when she 
slowly turned her head to look at the lovely bird, she 
saw — an angel, standing close beside her. He was 
clothed in white and though he appeared tall and 

35 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

majestic, his face was gentle and he looked at her 
lovingly. 

She was startled, but the angel broke a lily from 
its stalk and holding it toward her, said : ''Fear not, 
Mary, blessed art thou among women, the Lord is 
with thee." 

And then, children, he told her such a wonderful 
secret, — that a dear little Baby was to be given to 
her. I know how glad any mother would be to be 
told such a secret as this. I think it would make her 
happier than anything else she could hear. But 
Mary's joy was even greater than that of other 
mothers, because this Child was to be unlike other 
children. The angel told her He would be called 
Jesus because He would bring joy to all the world. 
He would comfort people when they were in trouble, 
make them well when they were in pain and teach 
them to be kind and loving. 

Mary listened to these words and they seemed 
almost too wonderful to be true, but she knew that 
the angel would not tell her these things unless they 
were really to happen. I want to read you from the 
Bible the answer she made to the angel. She bowed 
her head and said: "Behold the handmaid of the 
Lord ; be it unto me according to thy word." I 
think these words mean : ''I am God's child and I 
shall be glad to receive whatever He sends me." 

Then the angel left her, but she lingered on the 
roof in the hush of the eventide for a long time, 
thinking of this wonderful Child who was to be sent 
to her and thanking the dear Father for promising 
her this precious gift. 

36 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Some little time after this, Mary went to visit a 
dear cousin because she just couldn't keep her beau- 
tiful secret all to herself. She told her cousin, whose 
name was Elizabeth, that though she was poor, God 
was to make her rich through this gift He had prom- 
ised her. Elizabeth rejoiced with her and they had 
many talks about the wonderful Child who was to 
bring such joy to the world. 

Now I want to show you this picture so you can 
see Mary and the beautiful angel, as he holds the lily 
toward her and tells her the wonderful secret. 



Z7 



SUBJECT— THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST 

CHILD, 

Luke 2 :i-2o. 
Picture— ARRIVAL OF THE SHEPHERDS— Lerolle. 

Songs "CHRISTMAS HYMN" (See page 33), 
AND 'YE SHEPHERDS ARISE,"— Reinecke. 

[From '■'■Childhood Songs,''' page 6S. — Thh to be sung to the children.) 



STORY. 

(This story is suggested by the description given 
in "Ben Hur.") 

Do you remember, children, the story I told you 
last Sunday of Mary and the angel, who promised 
that a wonderful child should be given her ? To-day 
I want to tell you how the dear baby came to His 
mother. 

In the country where Mary lived there was a king, 
and the people had to obey him, however hard it was 
for them to do so. At the time of my story, this 
king said that all the people must pay taxes, — that 
means some money for the support of his kingdom, 
— and that they must pay these taxes, not where they 
lived, but where their fathers had lived. If they 
had moved to some other place, they had to take a 
journey, perhaps a long one, back to their father's 
home. 

Joseph was Mary's husband, and he was one of 
those who had to take a long journey to a little town 
called Bethlehem, where his father had lived. As 

38 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



dear Mary did not wish to be left alone, she went 
with Joseph, but the roads were rough, and she was 
not strong, so she was very tired, almost ill, when 
they reached Bethlehem. 




Many other people had to take this same journey, 
and they filled every house in the little town quite 
full. When Joseph and Mary, who had travelled 
slowly, at last arrived at Bethlehem, they found no 
place to sleep. Joseph was very much troubled, for 
he knew that Mary must rest, so he went first to the 
inn, or hotel, and then from door to door, but no one 
had an extra bed. Then he went back to the inn, and 
there the landlord told him that, though there was 

39 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

no room in the house, they might go into the stable, 
if they chose. This stable was a cave built in the 
side of a rock, but it was warmer than out of doors, 
so Mary went in and lay down on the straw. 

Here in the night the Christ Child, who had been 
promised, came to her, and I think she was so happy 
that she forgot how weary and cold she had been. 

Little babies were not dressed in those days ; in- 
stead, they were wrapped in long bands of cloth, 
which were called swaddling clothes. That is a 
strange name, is it not? I'd like you to remember 
it, if you can. 

Mary wrapped her Babe in these swaddling 
clothes, and, as there was no little bed, she laid Him 
in a manger from which the cattle fed. Then she 
and Joseph, with great joy in their hearts, watched 
their precious Child. 

Now I want to tell you something else that hap- 
pened on that wonderful night. A little way from 
the town, there were some shepherds. Do you know 
what shepherds are? Yes, men who take care of 
sheep. 

These men, after watching their flocks through 
the day, had led them into a large sheepcot. Though 
it had high walls about it, sometimes a lion or other 
wild animal would leap over the walls and try to kill 
the sheep, so one shepherd had to watch at night 
while the others slept. 

I wish you might have seen the shepherds. They 
were dressed in furs that were rough and heavy. 
They wore no hats, so their hair was thick and 
coarse, and their faces were brown and sunburnt. If 

40 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

you had not looked at them carefully, I think you 
would have said they were rough men, but had you 
seen their eyes or their smile, you would have known 
they were tender and loving. They had had hard 
lives, staying out of doors all the time and keeping 
all harm from the flocks, but it made them gentle to 
take such good care of the sheep and the dear little 
lambs. 

On this night of which I have told you, one shep- 
herd was to watch till twelve o'clock. The night 
was clear, the stars were twinkling, and all was so 
still and hushed, it seemed as if the whole world 
was waiting for something good to happen. 

At midnight, just as this watcher was about to 
awaken another shepherd to take his place, he saw 
a strange light in the sky. It was soft and white like 
the moonlight, and, as it spread, he could see the 
sheep and lambs, the dogs and the sleeping men. It 
became brighter, and brighter, until the stars could 
no longer be seen. In fear, he cried out : ''Awake, 
awake, the sky is on fire !" 

The other men awoke, covered their eyes to shut 
out the blinding light, and in terror fell upon their 
knees. But then, clear and sweet, came a voice 
which said : "Fear not ; for, behold, I bring you 
good- tidings of great joy, which shall be to all 
people." 

As the shepherds raised their heads, they saw the 
same beautiful angel, who had come to Mary, 
dressed in shining white. He spoke again: "For 
unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a 
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 

41 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Then, as they Hstened, the angel said : "And this 
shall be a sign unto you ; ye shall find the Babe 
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." 

As he finished speaking, the light seemed to turn 
to a soft rose-color, and then the shepherds saw the 
flashing of white wings and many, many angels — a 
whole multitude — who filled the sky and sang over 
and over the glad song : "Glory to God in the high- 
est, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 

The angel, who had first told the good news, 
spread his beautiful white wings and floated up into 
the sky, and the bright light slowly faded, but still, 
from far off, the shepherds could hear the angels 
singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on 
earth peace, good will toward men." 

The shepherds waited and watched for some time, 
and then one of them said: "Did not the angel say 
Christ is born ?" 

"He told us we should find Him lying in a 
manger," said another. "Let us go and worship 
Him." 

"Can we leave the sheep?" asked one. 

"The Lord will care for them," answered another. 

So the shepherds hastily went to Bethlehem, and 
there in a manger in the cave, they found the won- 
derful Child and Mary, His mother. The shepherds 
fell upon their knees and said: "It is, indeed, the 
Christ." 

Then, thanking God for letting them see the dear 
Baby, and with joy shining in their faces, they went 

42 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

back to their sheep, telhng all they met the wonder- 
ful news that Christ, the Lord, was really born. 
And, children, that was the first Christmas day. 

(It will make the story much more effective, if the 
angel's words are intoned, and the song of the angels 
sung or chanted, the second time very softly. In the 
picture, point out the sweet attitude of the mother 
and the surprise and eager interest of the shep- 
herds.) 



43 



SUBJECT— THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN 

MUSIC. 

Isaiah 40 : /-j / Luke 2 : 8-14. 

Picture— THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS— 

Plockhorst. 

Song— "SHINE OUT, O BLESSED STAR!" second and third verses. 

{From '■^Songs and Games for Little Ones,'" — Misses Walker and "Jenks 

page 63.) 



STORY. 

Children, in how many different ways do you think 
stories can be told ? Yes, one can tell them with the 
voice, as I have done, or one can write them, so they 
can be read from a book or paper. Can you think of 
other ways? If you look at the pictures on our 
walls, I am sure you can remember. Yes, one can 
tell stories by drawing pictures with a pencil or 
painting them with a brush. Still another way is to 
tell them in music. When we listen to the piano, 
organ and violin, and when people sing to us, we 
hear these stories. 

About whom have I told you the last two Sun- 
days ? Yes, about the Christ Child. 

Would you like to hear to-day of a great man 
who told this same story in music? 

His first names were George Frederick. Then I 
think you can remember his last name, which was 
Handel — George Frederick Handel. He lived long 

44 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



ago and yet many, many years after the Christ Child 
was born. His home was far from here in a country 
called Germany, where Froebel lived, who first 
planned the kindergarten for little children. 




George loved music better than anything else. 
When he was quite a little boy, he would spend 
hours playing on drums, horns and trumpets. His 
father loved his little boy dearly and wanted him to 
be happy, but he was quite an old man, and the noise 

45 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

his little son made disturbed him, so he said he 
must not play any more. 

Poor little George missed the music so much that 
his dear mother felt sorry for him, and when some 
one gave him a little piano, she had it placed in the 
attic, where he could play without troubling his 
father. 'Twas a queer little piano, called by a 
strange name, harpsichord, and the notes were so 
soft you could hardly hear them. ( Have some notes 
played pianissimo on the piano to illustrate. If the 
lovely picture by Margaret I. Dicksee, called ''Young 
Handel's First Efforts," can be shown at this time, 
introduce it by telling that George loved music so 
much that some times, after he had gone to bed, he 
would get up and go to the attic to play. Here one 
night the family, who had heard strange sounds, 
found him in his little nightgown playing upon his 
harpsichord.) 

Near George's home was a great church, and in 
the tower were some bells. Have you ever heard 
the church bells ring? Well, these bells used to ring 
and also play beautiful songs which people sang in 
church. George loved to hear this music, and, after 
he had listened to the bells, he would try to play the 
same songs on his little harpsichord. 

When he was about seven years old (ask a seven 
year old child to stand to show how tall he was), 
his father was going to visit a friend, and George 
begged to go with him. He knew beautiful music 
could be heard in the place where his father would 
stay and he wanted so much to hear it, but his 
father said he could not go. George was very much 

46 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

disappointed, and after thinking about it a long 
time, he decided he would run after tlie carriage in 
which his father was to ride. The morning for the 
journey came, and his father started. George 
slipped out without being seen, and ran and ran for 
a long time, until he was very tired. At last his 
father, happening to look out, saw his little boy, 
dusty and panting from his long run. He was angry 
at first, but after a moment he said : "Well, George, 
I really did not know how much you wanted to go 
with me, so you may get in and ride." 

The little fellow was very glad to do so, and soon 
his tired little head was nestled against his father's 
arm, and he went fast asleep. 

In the large house, or castle, where his father was 
to visit, there was a room fitted up for a chapel with 
a beautiful organ. One Sunday the man who played 
on the organ let George try it, and his music was 
so beautiful that the great man who owned the 
castle was delighted. He told George's father that 
he must let his little boy study music, so when they 
went home, George was sent to a man who taught 
him how to play and to write music. George was 
so, so happy, and he worked hard for many years, 
for it is not easy to write and play beautiful music. 

Would you like to see how music is written? 
(Show a music book.) 'Tis very different from 
other books, is it not? 

When George was a boy, his dear mother used to 
tell him stories. Many of them were from the Bible, 
about David, Samuel, Ruth and others, which I hope 
you will hear some day, if you do not know them 

47 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



now. The ones he loved best were those about 
Jesus ; stories of the Christ Child, which I have told 
you, and of what Jesus did as a boy and man. 

When George was older, he wrote stories in music 
of Samson and Saul, Joseph and others of whom we 
read in the Bible. But he wished to tell the best 
story of all, that about Jesus. He thought about 
it for many years, and at last he wrote such beauti- 
ful music that no one has ever written anything 
finer on this subject. This music tells the whole 
story of Christ. Handel felt that God was very near 
him as he made this music, and he tells us that he 
wrote it upon his knees. 

Though written so long ago, it is still given every 
Christmas in Chicago, in Boston and in many other 
cities. People listen for hours to the grand singing 
and playing, and when the concert is over, they feel 
they have had a little glimpse into heaven. When 
you are a little older, I hope your fathers and 
mothers will take you to hear this music, in which 
Handel has told the story of Christ so beautifully. 

When people first heard this music, they were 
made so happy that they thanked Handel for writing 
it. Some one told him how much every one enjoyed 
it, and he said : "I should be sorry if I only pleased 
people. I wish to make them better." 

The first time the music was played, Handel gave 
all the money he received from it to the sick people 
in the hospitals. 

Now I want to tell you of this music. It begins 
at a time long, long ago, when all the world was sad 
and weary, and tells how God will comfort his people 
bv sending Christ to them. 

48 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Then it speaks of the night when Christ was born, 

and this part I am going to ask Mrs. to 

play. If you hsten, I think you can hear the httle 
birds twittering, "Good night, good night," to each 
other, as the shepherds go to sleep, leaving just one 
to watch the sheep. (Here have the Pastoral Sym- 
phony from the Messiah played.) Could you hear 
the birds, and then did you notice how still every- 
thing became? 

I have asked Miss to sing for us, and 

you will hear what happened next. (Have the fol- 
lowing recitative sung: "There were shepherds 
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks 
by night ; 

"And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, 
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, 
and they were sore afraid. 

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not ; for 
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which 
shall be to all people ; for unto you is born this day 
in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ, the 
Lord.' " 

If it is possible to have a quartette render the 
chorus, the following may be given : 

Recitative; "And suddenly there was with the 
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, 
and sa^dng: 

Chorus, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace 
on earth, good will toward men." 

(If this cannot be rendered, continue thus : Now, 
children, would you not like to sing the words the 
angel sang? Then stand and give the second verse 

49 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

of "Shine Out, O Blessed Star," which should have 
been learned at the beginning of the hour.) 

This is all that we will hear to-day, but, perhaps, 
some other time I will tell you more of this story 
which Handel told so beautifully in music. 

(If it is not possible to have this music from the 
Messiah played and sung, tell in place of this story 
that of ''The Chimes," by Raymond MacDonald 
Alden. 

It will emphasize the chorus of the song : ''Ring, 
Ring, Happy Bells," and Blashfield's beautiful 
"Christmas Chimes" may be used as an illustra- 
tion. Or the lovely story of "The Stars and the 
Child," in "Child's Christ' Tales," by Andrea Hofer 
Proudfoot, may be told. Any sweet picture of the 
Christ Child may be shown as an illustration — 
Raphael's Sistine Madonna (detail of the mother and 
Child) ; Ittenbach's Christ Child or Froschl's Mother 
and Christ Child, are suggested. 



50 



SUBJECT— THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. 

John J :i6 ; /j :I2. 
Picture— THE NATIVITY— Carl Muller. 

Song— "WHILE STARS OF CHRISTMAS SHINE." 

[From '•'■ Holiday Songs,'' — Emilie Poulsson, page gj.) 



STORY. 



(The most beautiful Christmas story I know is 
"The Legend of the Christ Child," found in "Christ- 
mas-Tide," by Elizabeth Harrison. It breathes the 
true Christmas spirit and emphasizes the thought 
that in doing for others, we most fittingly keep the 
dear Saviour's birthday. If the children are already 
familiar with this, however, the following little story 
might be told them.) 

One evening just a few weeks before Christmas, 
a papa and mamma sat talking beside a bright fire 
in their pretty library. Papa said: "I wish, Alice, 
we could do something different on this Christmas 
from what we usually do. Each year we have given 
presents to the children and have helped them select 
gifts for us and for each other. We have remem- 
bered our friends, also, but all of these have so much 
given to them. Don't you think it would be nice 
this Christmas to give to the poor people who have 
no one to think of them ?" 

The mother replied : "Yes, dear, I, too, have been 
thinking of this very thing. I know the children 

51 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

would be happier if they kept Christmas thus and 
I'm sure it would please Jesus." 

They talked for some time about their plan and 
the next day, which was Sunday, papa said to the 




children: "Wouldn't you like to go with papa and 
mamma to-day to see some little children ?" 

Agnes and Bessie, Harold and Robert all said they 
would like to go, so after dinner they started. They 
took the car and went to a part of the city where 

52 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

they had never been. The houses became smaller 
and smaller, no flowers or trees grew there and not 
even grass was to be seen. 

When they left the car, papa took them along a 
narrow street, which looked like an alley, to a large 
old building. Here they climbed a great many stairs 
and on the top floor, papa rapped on a door. A 
little pale-faced child answered the knock and when 
papa asked, "How is your mother?" she answered, 
"She doesn't seem to get better." 

She asked them in and the children had never 
seen such a poor home. There were only two rooms 
and in one the mother lay sick, while three little 
children played about. Sallie, the oldest, who had 
opened the door, had done all she could, but she had 
been too busy caring for her mother and her little 
brother and sister to keep the room very neat. 

Papa had known the poor mother for some time, 
as she used to clean his office before she was taken 
ill. He had often sent her help and had gone with 
mamma to see her, but the children had never been 
with them before. 

Mamma now helped Sallie put the room in order 
and then she made the poor mother more comfort- 
able, while papa and the children talked to the little 
brother and sister. Mamma had brought medicine 
and other things which the poor sick mother was so 
glad to have. 

When at last papa and mamma had to leave, the 
poor children begged them all to come again, which 
they promised to do. As they were going home, 

53 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

papa said: ''I fear those poor people won't have 
a very happy Christmas." 

Agnes exclaimed: "Oh, Papa, I wish we could 
have them come to our Christmas tree !" 

Papa replied: ''Would you really like to share 
your Christmas with them, children?" 

Then all said, "Yes, indeed, we would." 

When they reached home, they sat down and 
talked over their plan. Papa and mamma told the 
children they couldn't give them quite so many 
presents, if they gave to the poor children, too. The 
children, also, would have to give smaller gifts to 
papa and mamma and to each other, if they bought 
presents for their guests, but they were willing to 
do this. Papa and mamma knew of other poor 
families and they decided to invite ten children with 
their mothers and fathers. 

I wish you might have peeped into that home on 
Christmas day. The house was gay with evergreen 
and holly, while in the library stood a beautiful, tall 
Christmas tree, which the children had helped to 
trim. They had made chains of popcorn and cran- 
berries and of silver and gold paper. There were 
many little lanterns, boxes and baskets which they 
had learned to make at Kindergarten, and which 
looked so pretty on the tree, while underneath were 
piled the presents. 

At twelve o'clock the poor people came and when 
they had taken off their wraps, papa and mamma 
invited them out to dinner. Most of them didn't 
usually have much to eat and they had never seen 
so pretty a table. 'Twas trimmed like the house with 

54 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

holly and evergreen and there were so many good 
things on it. I can't tell you how much they all 
enjoyed the oyster soup, the turkey, which many of 
the children had never tasted before, the nice vege- 
tables and then the pudding and ice cream. 

When they just couldn't eat any more, the children 
led the way to the library. Papa had gone ahead 
and had lit all the candles and I wish you could have 
seen how pretty the tree looked ! The eyes of the 
poor little children most popped out of their heads 
as they gazed upon it. Agnes and Bessie, Harold 
and Robert passed the presents and the poor children 
could hardly believe they were all for them. There 
were warm cloaks and hoods for the girls, coats and 
caps for the boys, and mittens for all. Then there 
were dolls and books, drums and horns, little woolly 
dogs and cats for the babies, and more toys than I 
can begin to tell you about. Boxes of candy, oranges 
and grapes, also, were given to each one. The 
mothers and fathers were not forgotten, as there 
were warm shawls, mufflers, gloves and many other 
things for them. 

When the presents had all been given, mamma 
asked the children if they would like to hear a story. 
Then she told them the one you know so well of the 
dear Baby who came to this world on the first glad 
Christmas day, and of the sweet song the angels 
sang, as they told the shepherds the good news. The 
children listened eagerly, for many of them had 
never heard of the Christ Child. When mamma had 
finished, she gave to all the children the picture of 

55 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

the dear Baby and His mother, which I have shown 
you to-day. 

When it was time to go home, the poor children 
and their fathers and mothers said that they had had 
such a happy time. 

In the evening papa put the presents for mamma 
and the children under the tree, and though there 
were not quite so many as usual, every one was much 
pleased and they all felt it had been the very happiest 
Christmas they had ever had. 



56 



SUBJECT— THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN, 

Matthew 2 :i-i2. 
Picture— WORSHIP OF THE MAGI— Hofmann. 

Song— 'SHINE OUT, O BLESSED STAR!"first verse. (See page 44.) 



STORY. 



(The material for this story, also, is drawn from 
"Ben Hur.") 

Children, what happy day came this past week? 
Christmas. And what is Christmas ? Christ's birth- 
day. What makes us so happy on Christmas day? 
(The answer will probably be given that we get 
presents, but lead the children to speak of the gifts 
they made as well as those they received.) 

Would you like me to tell you of the first gifts the 
little Christ Child received? I shall have to take 
you to a strange place to begin my story. Do you 
know what a desert is? I'm sure you have never 
seen one. 'Tis a place where there is nothing but 
sand. One could travel a long way and not see a 
house or a tree, a bush or a little flower — nothing 
but sand for miles and miles. 

What do you suppose one rides on to travel across 
a desert ? How many of you have seen a camel ? 
It is on these strange animals that men can cross the 
desert, because they can travel very fast and can go 

57 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

a long time without water, which often cannot be 
found for many clays. 

I want to tell you of a camel which was crossing 
the desert, many, many years ago, in the very month 




Christ was born. It was white and so tall that, had 
you seen it, you would have wondered how the man 
ever climbed upon its back. Its neck was long and 
slender and on its head was a bridle, with red fringe 

58 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

on the forehead and brass chains hanging from it, 
with httle silver bells on the ends. 

Two boxes were fastened on the camel's back, one 
on each side, and in one sat a man, while the other 
held what he needed on his journey. Over these 
boxes there was a green curtain which protected the 
man from the sun. 

As the camel moved on, with its long quick steps, 
the boxes rose and fell like a boat on the water. But 
the man was thinking and did not seem to notice 
where he was going. For two, three, four hours he 
had been traveling thus over the sand of the desert. 
But at noon the camel stopped and gave a strange 
cry, or moan, to show his master that he needed rest 
and food. The man looked out, bent his head and 
prayed and then cried, ''Ikh ! ikh !" which meant, 
''Kneel ! kneel !" The camel slowly obeyed and then 
the man put his foot on its neck and stepped upon 
the sand. 

He was not a young man. His long black beard 
was streaked with white. His face was almost as 
dark as a negro's and his hair was long and straight. 
His dress was very strange. He wore a long, white, 
embroidered shirt coming to his ankles and tied 
around the waist with a sash. Over this was thrown 
a brown cloak trimmed with yellow. A red hand- 
kerchief was fastened about his head and on his feet 
were sandals, strange shoes with just a bottom, or 
sole, fastened on to the foot with leather straps. 

As soon as he had stepped down, he looked all 
around but no one was in sight. After putting up 
his tent of red and white cloth, he set a table for 

59 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

three people. There were silk napkins, and plates 
made' like baskets, on which he placed meats and 
fruits, bread and cheese. Again he looked for some 
one to come and this time he saw first a small speck 
which, as it came nearer, proved to be another tall, 
white camel. 

When the traveller saw the tent and the man 
standing in its doorway, he bowed his head and 
prayed and stepping from his camel's neck to the 
ground, he greeted the one who had come first. 

''Peace be with thee," he said. 

"And to thee peace and welcome," was the answer. 

The second man was unlike the first. He was tall 
and thin, with white hair and beard, and his face, 
though dark, was lighter than the other's. A shawl 
was wound about his head, and under his white 
cloak he wore wide, white trousers which were 
fastened at the ankles. Instead of sandals, he had 
red slippers with pointed toes. 

Soon after these two had greeted one another, they 
looked up and saw that a third white camel was com- 
ing. As the man who rode it reached them, he, too, 
said, "Peace be to you." 

You could tell that he came from quite a different 
place from the others, for his face was white, his 
hair light and curly and his dark blue eyes were very 
beautiful. He wore a garment called a tunic, which 
came to his knees and was bound about his waist. 
Over this a blanket was wrapped. He had sandals 
on his feet, but his head was bare. 

60 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

After their long journey, the men were glad to 
sit down to the lunch which the one who arrived 
first had prepared. 

They then told each other how they happened to 
take the journey. The one who came last spoke 
first. He said his name was Gasper and that his 
people believed there was no God, but he had felt 
that there must be a heavenly Father. He had 
therefore gone up on a mountain, where he lived in 
a cave and spent much time praying that he might 
see God. 

One night, as he sat by the door of his cave, look- 
ing down at the ocean which lay at the foot of the 
mountain, he saw a star rising out of the water. It 
rose slowly until it stood over the place where he sat, 
and then a voice seemed to say to him : ''O Gasper ! 
Thy faith is great and with two others thou slialt 
see the Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is to come to the 
world." 

The next morning he went down from the moun- 
tain, bought the camel and came to meet the others. 

Then the man who came second spoke. He said 
he was called Melchior and came from India, where 
the people did not know how loving God was and 
that they would please Him by being kind to others. 
He said that when he had tried to help people, they 
had driven him away. So he, too, went by himself, 
as Gasper had done, and prayed and longed for God 
to show people how to love one another. 

As he walked by a lake one night, suddenly a light 
began to shine upon the water and a star arose and 
stood over him. He heard a sweet voice which said : 

6i 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

"Thy love is great. Blessed art thou, O Melchior ! 
With two others who come from far, thou shalt see 
the Christ who will bring love to the world." So he, 
too, had travelled to meet the others. 

Then the first man told his story. He said he 
came from Egypt, one of the oldest countries in the 
world and his name was Balthasar. Many of his 
people who were rich and great had forgotten God 
and when he tried to tell about Him, they laughed. 
But the poor had been glad to listen to him and to 
them he had talked of God and of what men should 
do to please Him. 

He had tried to help the poor people, but though 
he worked hard, he could only teach a few and he 
thought that when he was too old to work there 
would be no one to help them. So he went apart by 
himself, as Gaspar and Melchior had done, and asked 
God to send the Christ who should help every one. 

One night he prayed : ''O God, the world needs 
Thee so much ! When wilt Thou come ?" 

As he prayed, a star rose out of the little lake near 
him and shone so brightly he could not look at it. 
When it stood over his head, a voice said: *'Thou 
hast done many kind and loving deeds, O Balthasar ! 
With two others thou shalt see the Saviour." He 
had bought his camel and had hastened to meet the 
others. 

When each had told his story, these three Wise 
Men packed the tent and started again on their jour- 
ney. As they travelled, suddenly a bright light ap- 

62 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



peared and as it rose higher, they cried out : "The 
star ! the star ! God is with us !" 

They journeyed on and on until they came to 
Jerusalem, where King Herod lived, the same king 
who had said that all the people must pay him taxes. 
The travellers asked him where they could find the 
little Baby who was to be king. But Herod did not 
know of any king but himself, so he called all the 
great men together and they looked in the Bible and 
found that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem. 

The three Wise Men went to the little town where 
Christ had been born, the star still showing them the 
way. It was some weeks after that first Christmas 
day and Joseph and Mary were no longer in the 
stable, but were now living in a house near by. As 
the star stood still over this house, the Wise Men 
knew that they had found the right place. 

When they entered and saw the dear Baby in 
Mary's lap, they cried out, "It is the Star Child !" 
and knelt down and worshipped Him. Then they 
brought rich gifts to Him, gold and perfumes that 
had such a sweet odor and that were given only to 
kings. 

At last they went back to their homes and all their 
lives they thanked the dear heavenly Father for let- 
ting them see the wonderful Christ Child who was 
to bring joy and peace to all the world. 



63 



SUBJECT— THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 

Matthew 2:12-1^. 
Picture— FLIGHT INTO EGYPT— Hofmann. 



STORY. 



Children, of whose visit to the Christ Child did we 
hear last Sunday ? Yes, that of the Wise Men. You 
remember that they went to Herod to inquire where 
they should find the Child who was to be the King, 
and as Herod did not know, he asked others to tell 
them. When the Wise Men had learned that the 
Babe was to be born in Bethlehem, Herod told them 
to go and find Him and then to come back to the 
palace and tell him of their visit. He said he, too, 
wished to worship Him, but that was not true. He 
did not want anyone to be king except himself, and 
so he thought he would find this Child who was to 
be King and put Him to death. 

When the Wise Men had presented their gifts to 
the Christ Child, an angel came and told them not 
to go back to the palace, so they returned to their 
homes without seeing the king again. Herod might 
have found out in some other way, however, where 
the dear Baby was, so an angel came to Joseph one 
night and said : ''Arise and take the young Child 
and His mother, and flee into Egvpt, and be thou 

64 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

there until I tell thee ; for Herod will seek the young- 
Child to destroy Him." 

How startled Joseph must have been to have heard 
this news, but he must have felt very sure that God 




would help him care for the precious Child, when 
an angel was sent to tell him of this danger. 

He arose at once and after calling Mary they 
quickly packed their things for the journey, the 
first one the dear Baby had ever taken, and started 

65 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

that very same night. How do you suppose they 
travelled? Not in a train, nor even in an omnibus 
nor carriage. Instead, they had just one mule and 
on this Joseph put Mary, who had the dear Baby 
close in her arms, while he walked in front, leading 
the animal. 

They travelled slowly in this way and at night 
they stopped, built a little fire to keep them warm 
and then, spreading their long cloaks over them, 
they lay down in the open air to sleep. I think one of 
God's bright angels went with them, keeping all 
harm and danger away from the Holy Child and His 
dear mother and father. 

Egypt wasn't very far away, so after travelling 
three days, they reached the little river which separ- 
ated it from the country where they had lived. 
When they had crossed it, they were quite safe and 
Herod could not harm them. How glad the mother 
must have been that she had her dear Child out of 
danger. 

As the journey cost quite a little money and as 
Joseph and Mary were poor, they could not have 
gone had not Mary remembered the gold which the 
Wise Men had brought to the Christ Child. This 
she had carefully kept and it was even more than 
they needed. 

Wouldn't you like to have been in Egypt, children, 
in those days to have seen the dear Baby? As you 
watch your own little brother and sister, you can 
think that Jesus was once just such a little child. 
There He first learned from His mother's lips to say 

66 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

the gentle, loving words which all His life comforted 
and helped so many people. 

After some time had passed, the angel came once 
more to Joseph and told him that the wicked king 
was dead, so it would be safe for him to go back to 
his own land. Again the three took the journey, but 
instead of going to Bethlehem, where Jesus was 
born, they went to Nazareth, where they had first 
lived, and where the angel had told Mary the dear 
Baby was to be given to her. Of Jesus' home there, 
I will tell you next Sunday. 



67 



SUBJECT— THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS. 

Luke 2 .-4.0, ^2. 
Picture— INFANCY OF CHRIST— Hofmann. 

Song— "I LOVE TO HEAR THE STORY," second verse. 

[From ^^ Songs and Hymns for the Primary Sunday School,^'' page 2g.) 



STORY. 



Would you like me to tell you to-day of Jesus' 
home, children? You remember that after the 
wicked King Herod died, Joseph and Mary could 
bring their dear little Child back again to their own 
country. 

As I told you last Sunday, they decided to live in 
Nazareth, which had been their early home. 'Tis a 
small town, with hills rising all about it and I wish 
you could have stood on one of those hills and looked 
down on the pretty white roofs and the narrow 
streets. There were beautiful gardens where grew 
lovely flowers, and orchards of fig and olive trees. 
In the spring time every thing looked very bright 
and fresh ; gentle doves cooed on the house tops and 
other birds flew about the trees, the sunlight gleam- 
ing on their bright colors. 

The little house in which Jesus lived was quite 
different from yours. How many rooms has your 
home? Well, Jesus' had but one. Wasn't that a 
tiny house? It was built of white stone over which 
vines wreathed themselves and on the flat roof 
flowers grew and birds loved to alight. Inside the 
house a bench ran around the wall and on this Jesus 

68 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

placed every morning the bright colored quilt, neatly 
folded, on which He had slept at night. Would it 
not seem strange to you not to have any bed but just 
to sleep upon a quilt spread on the floor? A lamp 




hung from the center of the room and there was a 
chest, or cupboard, painted with bright colors, in 
which the family kept their best clothes and their 
books. Near the doors stood the water jars, filled 

69 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

with the pure, cool water which Mary used to bring 
from the fountain or well. 

At meal time a little round, wooden table was 
drawn out from the wall and on this was placed 
either a dish of rice and meat, or of stewed fruits. 
This with bread was all they had to eat. It was a 
Yery simple meal, was it not? After they had fin- 
ished eating, each one would hold his hands over a 
brass bowl, while Jesus poured water over them 
from a brass pitcher. He was trained to be very neat 
and washed often, before He ate, before He prayed, 
before He went to bed and at many other times. 

Would 3'ou like to know how He was dressed? 
He wore a bright red caftan, which is a kind of long 
garment, tied about the waist with a sash of many 
colors. When He was a little boy, He wore no shoes 
or stockings, but later He wore sandals, pieces of 
leather which covered only the bottom of the feet and 
v^ere fastened on with leather straps. There were 
white mats on the floors and to keep these clean, the 
sandals were taken off when the people entered the 
house. Wouldn't it be strange if, instead of rubbing 
your feet on the mat, before you went into your 
home, you should take off your shoes ? 

I am sure you would all like to know just what 
Jesus did all day long when He was a little Boy, but 
the Bible tells us very little about Him at that time. 
I want to read you, however, just what it does say: 
''The Child grew and waxed strong and was filled 
with wisdom," which means that, as He grew older. 
He learned more and more. The little boys in those 
days used to begin to study when they were very 

70 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

young. Their dear mothers would tell them beauti- 
ful stories out of the Bible and I'm sure Mary often 
did this, as Jesus knew all these stories so well when 
He was a man. Then at five or six the boys went 
to school and don't you think dear Jesus was loving 
and kind there, so all His little schoolmates liked to 
play with Him ? He must have studied hard, also, 
to have "increased in wisdom." 

I feel very sure that He was gentle and thoughtful 
wherever He was and helped every one who needed 
help, just as He did when He was a man, for the 
Bible says, "He increased in favor with God and 
men," which means that both God and men (every 
one) loved Him. 

Every Sunday He went to church and listened 
very attentively to the words of the preacher. The 
church would have seemed strange to you, for all the 
men sat on one side, while on the other, sat the 
women, who always wore long veils over their faces. 
At home His dear father read the Bible and prayed 
to God every day with his family, and Jesus often 
went away by Himself and talked to God, whom, 
even as a little boy, He knew as His loving, heavenly 
Father. 

Joseph was a carpenter and I think Jesus would 
often help him by bringing the tools he needed, as 
you see Him doing in this picture. He would help 
His dear mother, also, by bringing the water from 
the fountain and keeping the little home neat. Or 
He would help in the care of His brothers and 
sisters, for His m.other must have been busy as she 
had many children. 

71 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

He did not work all the time, though, I am sure. 
I think He often played games with other children 
and His laugh rang out the merriest of all, for He 
was a happy Boy. Just think, children, He never 
said a cross or unkind word, or did a naughty or 
selfish thing. He was always cheerful and happy, 
brave and loving. Wouldn't you like to play with 
that kind of a boy? I'm sure He wants us all to be 
loving, kind and helpful just as He was. 



72 



SUBJECT— THE SCENE IN THE TEMPLE. 

Luke 2 :^i-ji. 
Picture— CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE— Hofmann. 



STORY. 



Do you remember, children, Jesus' first journey, 
when, as a Httle Baby, His father and mother carried 
Him to Egypt? To-day I want to tell you of an- 
other journey He took when He was a Boy of twelve. 
You know we have many holidays which help us to 
remember certain things. Can you tell me some of 
them? Yes, Christmas is one, dear Jesus' birthday, 
and Thanksgiving is another, when we thank God 
for all He has done for us through the year. 

When Jesus lived, people had such holidays, or 
holydays, as the word really means. On one of them 
all who could do so, went to Jerusalem, which was 
the largest city in that country, and there worshipped 
God. Joseph and Mary went to the great city every 
year on this holiday. Jesus longed to go with them 
and when He was twelve years old. His parents said 
He might go. 

The journey was taken in April, which was one of 
the most beautiful months of the year, and as Jesus 
came down the hill from the little town of Nazareth, 
where He lived, His first view of the country gave 

73 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Him such delight. Orange, olive and fig trees lifted 
their branches above His head, the large corn fields 
lay on either side of the road, while everywhere 
blossomed the flowers, a rich profusion of scarlet, 





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blue and purple. The birds of many colors flew 
overhead and all nature seemed bright and joyous. 

Many, many people — a vast multitude — were tak- 
ing the same journey and all were chatting and 
laughing as they walked or rode along. You know 
I told you people could not travel as we do now on 
the cars. Instead the women and old men rode 
mules, horses or camels, which the men led. The 
boys walked with their fathers or, when they became 
tired, they were lifted up to ride for awhile behind 
their mothers. As the people travelled on, they often 

74 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

sang to keep them from becoming tired and some 
among them would play on flutes and drums. They 
stopped once in awhile to refresh themselves with 
dates or melons, or to get a cool drink of water from 
some little stream. 

I wish you might have seen Jesus. He was tall 
and strong, a beautiful Boy, clothed in a red caftan, 
the long garment of which I told you, and over this 
was an outer garment, called a tunic, of white, 
fastened about His waist with an embroidered sash. 
He wore, also, a loose jacket of blue. 

As it was His first journey since He was a little 
Child, He had many things to think about and was 
almost too happy to talk as He walked along. He 
thought of the great city He was to visit with its 
wonderful Temple where He might worship His 
heavenly Father. When it grew dark the travellers 
would stop, pitch, their tents for the night and rest, 
but I think Jesus would lie awake a long time look- 
ing up at the bright stars and thinking of all that 
this journey meant to Him. 

On the fourth day the high towers and great walls 
of Jerusalem could be seen. Jesus looked eagerly 
toward it and there was the Temple, its golden pin- 
nacles flashing in the sunlight and its white marble 
gleaming like snow. All the people shouted, "Jeru- 
salem ! Jerusalem !" as they saw it and then burst into 
a glad song of praise. But Jesus bent His head ; He 
could not shout nor sing nor even speak, He was so 
deeply moved. 

I know how He must have enjoyed the days they 
spent in the great city — all was so new and strange, 

7S 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

so different from the quiet little town where He had 
spent His happy childhood. Everything interested 
Hirn, but He loved best to go to the wonderful Tem- 
ple where He would kneel and thank His dear 
Father for all the blessings He had received. 

After several days Joseph and Mary started home. 
Jesus was not with them, but they thought He was 
with some of their friends or neighbors, so they did 
not look for Him. But when night came and He did 
not join them, they began to feel anxious. They 
went to one party after another, but no one had seen 
the Boy. Greatly troubled they returned to the city 
and went all about hunting Him. For three days 
they searched and poor Mary was so anxious and 
frightened. Joseph, too, wished he had never let 
Jesus leave him. 

At last they went to the Temple and what do you 
think they saw ? In one of the halls, or small rooms, 
they found Jesus talking to some rabbis, or wise men. 
He was asking these wise men questions. Though 
they were old men, many of them with white hair 
and long white beards, they were glad to talk to the 
beautiful Boy with His bright face and eager inter- 
est. They found that Jesus had studied the Bible 
so carefully that He could answer all their questions 
and they were often puzzled when He asked ques- 
tions of them. The longer they talked the more 
astonished they became, for Jesus knew more than 
even they did about many things. He was so inter- 
ested that He forgot all about His mother and 
father. His home and everything else. 

76 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

When His parents found Him, His mother cried 
out: "Oh, my Son, my Son, why did you leave us? 
Your father and I have been so frightened and for 
three days have searched for you everywhere." 

Jesus said: "Why did you look anywhere else? 
Didn't you know I would be here in the Temple, in 
my heavenly Father's house?" 

But He went with them at once and was their lov- 
ing, obedient Son just as He had always been. I 
am sure, however, that He never forgot the wonder- 
ful Temple and His talk with the wise men there. 



77 



SUBJECT— THE HOME LIFE OF JESUS. 

Luke 2 .-J/, ^2. 
Picture— HEAD OF CHRIST— Hofmann. 

[From '■'■Christ in the Temple.'"'') 

Song "MORNING PRAYER." 

[From "The Child's Garden of Song,'' — -William L. Tomlins, page II.) 



STORY. 

I told you last Sunday, children, that Jesus went 
with His parents back from Jerusalem to His home 
in Nazareth. The Bible says that He was ''subject" 
to His father and mother, which means that He al- 
ways did as they wished Him to do. When you are 
good and mind papa and mamma, are you happy, 
children? Then I know that dear Jesus was so, for 
you remember that He never did anything wrong. 
I am sure His home was a happy one, for just think 
how much joy and gladness one boy, who was al- 
ways cheerful, loving and good, would make. 
Joseph, too, was strong and wise, a man who loved 
God and tried always to do right, and Mary was so 
sweet and gentle that I'm sure her presence brought 
quiet and peace. 

For eighteen long years Jesus lived in His home 
and the Bible tells us very little of what He did, but 
of some things we may be sure. We know that 
He was poor and had to work to earn money to buy 
food and clothes and other things the familv needed. 

78; 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



When He was still young, God called His dear father 
to cor^"*^ ^^P ^o heaven to be with Him and then I 
think Jesus took His father's place and cared for His 
mothe^"' brothers and sisters. What kind of work 




(^o yc^^^ think He did? Do you remember what His 
fathe^ was? Yes, a carpenter and even as a little 
Boy, Jesus would help him by bringing his tools 
and i^ other ways. Now He, Himself, was a car- 
pente^ and when people wanted a door made, or a 

79 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

fence mended, or a new roof put on a house or barn, 
they came to Jesus to do it. Do you think He did 
His work well ? Yes, I am sure everything He made 
was done perfectly. 

It was not only with His hands that He worked. 
He read and studied all through these long years, 
His father, mother and others helping Him. The 
Bible was the book He studied most until He knew 
all the wonderful words that were in it. 

Then I think God talked to Him and taught Him 
what He wished Him to do. I think God talks to 
us, too, dear children. Does not a little voice in your 
heart tell you what is right and what is wrong? I 
like to think that is God's voice speaking to us. 

Jesus talked often to God, also. How did He do 
that? Yes, He would kneel and pray to His 
heavenly Father. He loved to be alone and He 
would often climb the hills which rose above His 
home, or walk through the quiet fields, or rest under 
the trees and think of all the work He was to do. 
Perhaps He did not know when He was a Boy just 
what work God had for Him, but, as He grew older. 
He became more and more sure that He was not like 
other young men, but that God had sent Him to the 
v/orld to help people to be loving and good. 

In the pictures that men make of Jesus, they often 
paint a beautiful light about His head and I think 
a light really did shine from Him, but it came from 
His loving face and made those about Him happy. I 
am sure He was beautiful because every one who saw 
Him loved Him. Little children came to Him so 
gladly and the sight of His kind eyes and tender 

80 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

smile would make people forget all their sorrow and 
trouble. 

I have told you that He read and studied many 
books, but I want to tell you of other things, also, 
which He watched and studied. He loved to climb 
the hill which rose above Nazareth, so that He might 
see the eagles, or great birds, soaring above His 
head and feel the soft breeze lifting the hair from 
His brow. As He looked down He saw the beauti- 
ful trees and fields and the square flat-roofed houses 
with the pretty gardens about them. At His feet 
grew the lovely wild flowers, while in the distance 
He could see the great mountains covered with snow. 

I am sure He loved everything His heavenly 
Father had made, the little birds, the hens with their 
cunning chickens, and the frolicsome lambs, while 
even the foxes and serpents interested Him. Then 
He watched people at their work, the farmer as he 
scattered his seed, the woman as she made her bread 
and the little children at play. When He was a man 
He told beautiful stories about all these things and 
some of them I shall tell you. When you are older, 
I am sure you will love to read them all in the 
Bible. 



8i 



SUBJECT— THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. 

Matthew j : 13-17. 
Picture— THE JORDAN. 

[Palestine.) 



STORY. 



Children, did you ever see a little baby baptized? 
You know that the father and mother bring the little 
one to church and there promise to teach him to love 

God and to do what is right. Then Dr. 

(give the minister's name) puts some water on the 
baby's head and asks God to bless him. Would you 
like to hear to-day of the time when Jesus was 
baptized. 

I must go back and tell you first of a little baby 
who came to his mother just a little while before the 
Christ Child was sent to Mary. An angel had told 
his father, who 'was a minister and such a good 
man, that this little boy would come to their home 
and that his name was to be John. The angel said 
he would make many people happy because he would 
tell them about Jesus. 

John did not stay at home like other boys. Instead 
he went away by himself to a lonely place called 
a wilderness and there he lived for many years all 
alone. He wore a garment made of rough, heavy 
cloth, tied about his waist with a leather strap, and 

82 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

he ate only the coarse food which he found in the 

wilderness. 

■ Do you remember that I told you, some weeks ago, 

how sad and wicked people had become and how 




they longed for God to send His Son to teach them 
to be good and happy once more ? Well, John spent 
many, many hours thinking of these things. He 
knew how the people needed help and he prayed to 
God to send the promised Saviour. 

At last I think God spoke to him and told him that 
Jesus, who was to help every one, had really come to 
this earth and that he might tell people to prepare 
for Him. You know when mamma is going 
to have company, she sees that everything is 
in order and perhaps trims the house with flowers. 
John was to tell the people to prepare for Jesus bv 

83 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

trying to make their hearts clean and pure. Those 
who had done wrong must feel sorry and try to do 
only good and kind things. 

John was very glad he could be God's messenger, 
so he went out by the river Jordan and there many, 
many people came to him. To all he said, "Repent," 
which means, ''Feel sorry you have done wrong and 
try to do better." 

He then told them that Jesus was coming to help 
them to live good, true, pure lives. When the people 
heard him, they felt sorry they had been so wicked ; 
they wept and said they would try to be good. Then 
John took some water from the river and baptized 
them and told them to remember to do what was 
right. 

The people said to him, ''You are so good we are 
sure you, yourself, are the Christ." 

But John said : "Oh, no ! I am not even good 
enough to untie His shoe. I am only sent to tell you 
to make your hearts pure, so you will be ready to see 
Him when He comes." 

Jesus was now a man thirty years old and even in 
Nazareth He heard of John, for people went to hear 
him from all parts of the country. Jesus went with 
the others, as He thought perhaps God wished Him 
to leave His quiet homic now and begin His work of 
helping people. He travelled until He came to the 
river Jordan and there, standing under the trees. He 
watched John speaking to the people. As soon as 
John saw Him, he knew He was the Christ. His 
eyes filled with tears, as he bowed his head and wor- 
shipped Him. 

84 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Jesus started to go toward the river that John 
might baptize Him, but John cried out, "I need to be 
baptized by you and do you come to me ?" 

But Jesus said, "Let it be so, for that is God's 
will." 

He stepped into the river and John baptized Him. 

Then, children, such a wonderful thing happened. 
As Jesus came up out of the water, the sky seemed 
to open and a beautiful white dove flew slowly down. 
It circled about Jesus and then settled gently upon 
His head, as He stood silently praying. Then from 
heaven a voice was heard, which said, ''This is my 
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

Would it not seem very wonderful if we should 
hear a voice speaking from the sky? I think these 
words meant that Jesus had been so loving and good 
that God was pleased with everything He had done. 

Shall we, too, try to please our heavenly Father, 
children dear ? Can you tell me how you can please 
Him. (Lead the children to speak of loving, help- 
ful things they can do.) 



85 



SUBJECT— THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS. 

Matthew ^ :i-ii. 
Picture— HEAD OF CHRIST— Hofmann. 



STORY. 



Do you remember, children I told you that 1 
thought we each could hear God's voice speaking to 
us ? Something in our hearts seems to tell us what 
is right and what is wrong. God's voice always tries 
to help us do what is right but another voice tempts 
us to do naughty things. 

This voice comes from the tempter who is always 
busy trying to get people to do wrong. Does he ever 
come to you and tell you that you can take another 
cookie when mamma has said you couldn't have any 
more, or that you needn't let her know you heard 
when she called you, or that you ought to slap your 
little brother because he has torn your dolly's dress ? 
I think the tempter whispers to all of us, urging us 
to do selfish, unkind, naughty things, and do you 
know that he even tried to get Jesus to do what was 
v^rong. 

After the Voice had spoken from heaven those 
beautiful words of which I told you last Sunday, 
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well 
pleased," the tempter said, "I will see if I can't make 
Jesus do something that will not please God." 

86 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Jesus wished to be alone after He was baptized to 
try to find out just what God wished Him to do, so 
He went to the wilderness where He should see no 
one. 'Twas a very lonely place with great rocks and 




hills about and no beautiful trees or lovely flowers. 
There were wild animals, too, and at night Jesus 
could hear the howling of a wolf or the barking of 
a jackal, but none of them hurt Him. They seemed 
to make the darkness all the more lonely, however. 

87 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Here Jesus stayed for many days and nights and 
He was thinking so deeply that He even forgot to 
eat. 

At last the tempter came to Him. I think perhaps 
he just whispered in Jesus' heart, as he often does in 
ours, and what do you think he said ? Did you ever 
see a large stone that looked like a loaf of bread? 
There was one of these smooth stones near Jesus 
and the tempter said : *'You can do whatever you 
wish, because you are the Christ. I know you are 
very hungry for you have eaten nothing for many 
days. Why don't you turn this stone into a loaf of 
bread and eat it?" 

Children, Jesus knew He could do this. He knew 
He need only say, ''Be bread," and the cold, hard 
stone would be a warm, sweet loaf. He was so hun- 
gry that He felt faint and almost sick, but He said : 
''No, God did not want me just to please myself. 
He sent me to the world to help others. If I am 
hungry. He will give me food and 1 know He would 
not want me to turn this stone into bread just to eat 
it myself." 

The tempter then tried again. He seemed to carry 
Jesus to one of the towers of the beautiful Temple 
at Jerusalem. (I think it was a kind of dream, or 
vision, that came to Jesus.) It was very, very high 
and, as Jesus looked down, the grown people below 
didn't seem to be any larger than children. The 
tempter whispered : "Throw yourself down, for the 
Bible says God will send His angels to take care of 
you, so vou will not be hurt." 

88 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Jesus said: "Oh no, the angels only take care of 
lis when we are doing right and it would be foolish 
and wrong for me to do what you ask." 

The tempter thought he would try once more, so 
this time he carried Jesus to a high mountain and 
said: "Your people want a king to rule over them 
and drive away all those who are unkind and cruel 
to them. Now I am very strong and powerful and 
if you will kneel down and worship me, I will make 
you a great king. You shall wear beautiful clothes 
and have good things to eat and be happy all the 
time. You will be able to help your people, also, 
whom you love and every one will know that you 
are the great King whom God has sent." 

Jesus replied: ''No, I must worship God and 
kneel only to Him," I think, children. He did not 
want to be that kind of a king, but instead He wished 
to make people well, when they were sick, and help 
them to be loving and kind. 

The tempter found that Jesus would do nothing 
wrong so he went away and then, children, the Bible 
says that angels came and cared for Him. Don't 
you think they whispered in His ear that He was 
God's beloved Son and that He had pleased His 
heavenly Father by refusing to do all the wrong 
things the tempter had suggested? Then they 
brought Him food and, when He had eaten. He fell 
asleep with their loving arms about Him. 



89 



SUBJECT— CHRIST. AND HIS DISCIPLES. 

John 1 :2g-4^g ; Matthew ^: 18-22 ; g :g ; Luke j : -/.- 1 1 . 
Picture— CALLING OF MATTHEW— Alexandre 

BlDA. 



STORY. 



Last Sunday 3^ou remember that I told you, chil- 
dren, of the wicked tempter who tried to make Jesus 
do what was wrong. But you know he did not suc- 
ceed and had to go away because Jesus would not 
do any of the things he suggested. Then the angels 
came and cared lovingly for Jesus, giving Him food 
and refreshing sleep. 

After He was rested, Jesus went back to the river 
Jordan and when John saw Him, he cried out, "Be- 
hold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of 
the world !" which means : "This is the One of 
whom I told you, who will help you to be good." 

He then reminded the people that the dove had 
flown down to rest on Jesus' head, when he baptized 
Him, and said that God had told him that the one 
upon whom the dove should rest was really the 
Christ. 

The next day as Jesus again passed by, John said 
the same words, "Behold the Lamb of God !" 

Two men whom John had helped, were standing 
near him and when they heard his words, they fol- 

90 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

lowed Jesus. Perhaps they didn't Hke to speak to 
Him first, so how glad they were when He turned 
and said, "What do you seek?" 




They didn't quite know what to say, I think, but 
they longed to be with Jesus, so they answered, 
''Rabbi" (which means Master or Teacher), ''where 
do you live?" 

Jesus said, ''Come with me and you shall see," so 
they went home with Him. 

91 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

It was four o'clock in the afternoon and they 
stayed all that day and night. What happy hours 
they must have had talking with Jesus and how 
sure they must have become that He was indeed the 
Christ whom God had sent to help people. 

They had been so happy with Him that they 
wanted to tell others what a loving Friend He was, 
so one of them, whose name was Andrew, went at 
once to find his brother Simon. He said to him, 
*'Just think, we have found the Christ !" Simon was 
so glad to hear this wonderful news and wanted to 
see this One of whom he had heard, so Andrew 
brought him to Jesus. 

When Jesus saw him. He said: ''People call you 
Simon, but now you shall be called Peter." The 
name Simon means a dove, but Peter means the rock 
where the dove can hide and I think Jesus meant to 
say that Peter would learn from Him to grow as 
strong as a rock, and would be able to help and pro- 
tect people, just as a great rock could give shelter to 
a little, gentle dove. 

Peter and Andrew were fishermen and so was 
John, the one who first came to Jesus with Andrew, 
and after awhile they went back to their work. 

One morning, as Jesus came to the shore of the 
lake, He saw that Peter and Andrew were just 
coming home from fishing. He said, "Take your 
boat out a little farther where the water is deeper and 
let down the nets." (In those days, instead of fish- 
ing with a pole and line, they caught the fish in 
nets.) 

92 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Peter said, "Master, we have worked hard all 
night and haven't caught a single fish." Then he 
added, "But of course we will do as you say." 

So they took the boat out to the deep water and 
let down the nets, and, children, such a wonderful 
thing happened? So many fish came into the nets 
that they began to break and Peter and Andrew 
couldn't pull them in. They called to John and 
James, the brother of John, who were near in their 
boat, to come and help them and it was all that the 
four strong men could do to drag the nets to shore. 
They were so astonished and Peter knelt down and 
worshipped Jesus and said, "I am unworthy to be 
with you, for you are so good and kind and I often 
do wrong things." 

But Jesus said, "Don't be afraid, Peter. I want 
you and your brother to follow me and as you have 
drawn fish into your nets, so now I want you to 
persuade men to come to me that I may teach them 
to be kind and good." 

Peter and his brother were so glad that Jesus 
wished them to be with Him always and they at 
once left the fish, their boats and nets and followed 
Him. 

Then Jesus passed on a little way and there were 
John and James with their father mending the net 
that had been broken by the great quantity of fish 
they had caught. Jesus said to them, also, "Follow 
me," and they said good-bye to their father and left 
everything and followed Him. 

On another day as Jesus was walking along. He 
saw a man named Philip and He said to him, "Fol- 

93 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

low me." Perhaps Philip knew how loving and 
good Jesus was and so was glad to be called by Him. 
Not only did Philip go with Him, but he went to 
get a friend to bring him to Jesus. 

This friend was Nathanael (that is a long, hard 
name, is it not?) and Philip said to him: "We 
have found the Christ and instead of being a great, 
rich man as we thought He would be, He is Jesus, 
the carpenter, who lives in Nazareth." 

Nathanael knew how small this little town was, so 
he said, "Is it possible that Christ can come from 
Nazareth?" Philip didn't try to answer but just 
said, "Come and see." 

When Jesus saw Nathanael, He said, "Here is a 
good man." 

Nathanael was so surprised and said, "Wh}^ how 
do you know anything about me ?" 

Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, when 
you 'were under the fig tree, I saw you." 

Jesus did not mean He had really seen Nathanael 
with His eyes, because He was too far away, but He 
meant that He could tell what Nathanael was doing. 
Perhaps Nathanael had been kneeling under the fig 
tree, thinking about Christ and wishing He might 
come to the world, so now, when Jesus said He had 
seen him there and knew what he was longing for, 
Nathanael knew He was Christ. He said, "Rabbi, 
Thou art the Son of God ; Thou are the King." 

At another time Jesus saw a man named Matthew 
to whom people were paying taxes. You know I 
told you that the king of that country said that peo- 
ple must pay money for his kingdom, so he chose 

94 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

some men to take this money and bring it to him. 
These nien were often wicked and made the people 
pay more than was right, so they could keep some 
of the money. I think that Matthew had not always 
been a good man, but Jesus knew he wanted to be 
better, so when He saw him He said to him, as He 
had said to the others, *' Follow me." And, children, 
he gave up all his business and followed Jesus at 
once and became a good, true man. Later he wrote 
a part of the Bible, which tells us all about dear Jesus 
and what He did when He was on earth. 

After that Jesus called other men to be with Him ; 
Thomas, and others whose names I shall not give 
you, for I'm afraid you couldn't remember them. 
There were twelve in all and they are called Jesus' 
disciples, because they were always with Him. 
Must it not have made them happy to go with Him 
and hear all the wonderful words that He spoke and 
see all the kind, loving things that He did? I, too, 
should like to have been with Him, wouldn't you, 
children dear ? 



95 



SUBJECT— THE WEDDING AT CANA. 

John 2 :i-ii. {R. V.) 
Picture— MARRIAGE AT CANA— Dore. 



STORY. 



Children, how many of you have been to a party ? 
I think every one. Do you Uke to go? Yes, I am 
sure you do and I know you have happy times at 
them. Has any one been to a wedding? Oh, yes, I 
see many of you know what that is, also. 'Tis a 
kind of party, is it not ? — the very happiest party one 
could have. The bridegroom is so glad he is to 
take the sweet bride away with him after the wed- 
ding, and she loves him so much that this day, when 
she is to leave her home and go with him, is the very 
happiest one of her life. All the friends, too, who 
come to the wedding, rejoice in their happiness. 

Do you know, children, that the Bible tells us of 
a wedding to which dear Jesus went? It was at 
Cana, a small town just a little distance from His 
home at Nazareth. Let me read you just what the 
Bible says: ''There was a marriage" (or wedding) 
"in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of Jesus was 
there, and Jesus also was bidden" (or invited) ''and 
His disciples, to the marriage." 

Jesus had had to take a long journey to come to 
this wedding. You know He had been to the river 

96 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Jordan, where He had been baptized, and had then 
had those long, hard days in the wilderness, where 
the tempter tried to persuade Him to do wrong. 
Then He had called His disciples, Peter and 




Andrew, John, Philip and others, to follow Him, 
and now He brought them with Him to the wedding. 
When they reached the house I am sure they were 
all dusty and tired, so they were glad to bathe their 
faces and hands with the cool water which the 

97 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

servants brought them. They washed their feet, 
also, for you remember I told you that the people 
took off their shoes, or sandals, when they entered 
the houses and stepped on the clean, white mats. 

I am sure Jesus was glad to see His dear mother, 
for He had been away from her a long time, and how 
happy she must have been to see Him. I think she 
met and kissed Him, before He saw the others. 

The bride was a cousin of Jesus and He was glad 
to see her, too. She looked so sweet in her lovely 
dress, with a wreath of flowers upon her head and 
a long veil covering her from head to foot. 

In those days weddings were different from ours. 
The bride walked to the bridegroom's home just at 
twilight, when the sun was bidding the world 
''Good-night." Torch-lights, which twinkled in the 
growing darkness, were carried before her and the 
young people who were with her danced and sang, 
while some played on flutes and drums. When she 
reached her new home, the party took place there. 
Instead of lasting just a few hours that evening, the 
merry times continued and the wedding guests 
stayed for several days. 

The second or third day Jesus' mother came to 
Him in great trouble and told Him there was no 
more wine. Think how sorry people would feel 
now, if, when they gave a party, they found they 
had not enough ice cream or cake for every one. 
Mary knew that the bride and bridegroom and their 
father and mother would all feel so badly if their 
guests had not enough to drink and she felt sure 
Jesus could help them. I think she had alwavs gone 

98 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

to Him in trouble, as He had been such a strong, 
loving, helpful Son. 

Jesus did not say at once that He would help her, 
but she felt sure He would, so she told the servants 
to do whatever He commanded. 

Jesus stood still for a moment and then He 
noticed the great stone water jars near the door. 
Krom them the servants had poured the water to 
give to all the guests to bathe their hands and feet 
and they were now almost empty. Jesus said to the 
servants, ''Fill the water jars with water," and they 
filled them to the brim. 

"Pour it out now," said Jesus, ''and take it to the 
one who is sitting at the head of the table." 

And, children, when the servants poured it out, 
it was no longer the clear, cold water they had just 
put in the jars, but instead it was a bright red wine ! 
They were astonished and so was every one who 
drank it, when they heard the story, for it was the 
best wine they ever tasted. 

The wine that we have now often hurts people 
when they take it, but I am sure this that Jesus made 
was sweet and pure and could harm no one. Per- 
haps it was just the grape juice that even litttle 
children love to drink. 

Every one was glad Jesus had helped them in 
their trouble and I think there never was a happier, 
merrier wedding than that one at Cana when He 
was one of the guests, The Bible says that His 
disciples believed on Him. I know they all, Peter 
and John and the rest, must have rejoiced that they 
had a Friend who could do such wonderful things. 

99 

L.ofC. 



SUBJECT— THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. 

Mark 1 :2g'ji ; John ^: 46-^3; Mark 7 .-js-jy ; 10:46-^2; 

Luke 18 .'43. 



Picture— HEALING THE SICK— H 



OFMANN. 



Song— "THE GREAT PHYSICIAN," first verse only. 
{From '■'■Gospel Hymns , Consolidated,'' p^g^ S^^-) 



STORY. 

When you are sick, children, for whom does 
mamma send? Yes, the doctor. I want to tell you 
to-day of the greatest Doctor who ever lived. Who 
do you think He was ? Yes, Jesus. He is called the 
Great Physician, or Doctor, because He made so 
many sick people well. 

You remember that one of Jesus' twelve disciples 
was named Peter and at one time his wife's mother 
was ill with a fever. Peter and his wife were so 
troubled for they loved her dearly and could not 
bear to have her suffer. They knew that Jesus could 
help her, so Peter went and asked Him to come and 
make her well. 

I want to read you the sweet story just as the 
Bible tells it. ''Jesus came and took her by the hand, 
and lifted her up ; and immediately the fever left 
her, and she arose and ministered unto them," that 
means she waited upon them. 

I know she was very thankful that dear Jesus 
had made her well and it must have been a joy to 

100 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



her to serve Him in any way. Perhaps He was 
hungry and she brought him food and then per- 
suaded Him to rest awhile. 




On another day the son of a rich man was taken 
very ill. He grew worse and worse until every one 
thought he would die. His father had heard that 
Jesus could make people well, so he started to find 
Him. 

lOI 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

He had to travel a long way, but at last he saw 
Jesus and begged Him to come to his house and 
heal his little son who was so very, very ill. ''Will 
you not come quickly," he cried, "before my son 
dies." 

Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way ; thy son liveth," 
that is, "Go back home again. It is not necessary for 
me to go with you, for I have made your son well 
■even though I am so far away." 

The father believed that his little boy was really 
cured just as Jesus said and oh, how happy he was ! 

It was seven o'clock so he decided not to go home 
that night but to rest instead, as he was very weary 
from the long journey. As he was going home the 
next morning his servants came running to meet 
him, crying, "Your son lives ! your son lives !" 

He asked them when the- little boy began to grow 
better and they replied, "Yesterday, at seven o'clock, 
the fever left him," which was just the hour Jesus 
had told him his son had been made well. 

Don't you think, children, the father was very glad 
to get his dear little boy in his arms again? How 
thankful he must have felt that Jesus had done this 
great thing for him. 

But now I have something even more wonderful 
to tell you that Jesus did. One day a poor man was 
brought to Him who could neither hear nor speak. 
Just think how hard it would be, children, if you 
should see that people were talking but couldn't 
hear one word they said and couldn't say one word 
yourself. The friends of this man felt so sorry for 

102 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

him that they begged Jesus to put His hand on him, 
as they knew just a touch would make him well. 

Jesus took the man a little apart from the crowds 
which were pressing about Him and put His fingers 
in his ears and touched his tongue Immediately the 
man's ears were opened so he could hear and his 
tongue was loosened so he could speak plainly. 

The people were astonished that Jesus could do 
such a wonderful thing as this and they told every 
one about it, saying, ''He hath done all things well : 
He maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to 
speak." (Read the Bible words whenever possible.) 

Now, children, shut your eyes tight just a mo- 
ment. Wouldn't it be very sad if you always had 
to keep them shut and couldn't see the beautiful 
flowers or the sunshine or your dear mamma's 
face ? 

When Jesus was on earth, there lived a poor man 
named Bartimeus. He was quite blind and so poor 
that he had to sit by the road and beg for money 
to buy his food. One day he heard the noise of 
many, many people and he asked what it meant.. .. He 
was told that Jesus was passing by. Now Bartimeus 
had heard what wonderful things Jesus had done 
and he had often thought, ''Oh, if I could only go and 
find Him and ask Him to make me see !" But he 
had no one to take him and he dared not go alone, 
as he was blind. 

Now, however, when he heard that Jesus was 
really passing, he called out as loud as he could, 
"Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me !" 

103 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The people told him to be quiet and not make such 
a noise, as he would disturb Jesus. 

But Bartimeus thought, "I have wanted to find 
Him for so long and He must not pass by without 
helping me." So he cried out louder than ever, 
''Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me !" 

Jesus stood still and told the people to bring the 
blind man to Him. They hurried to Bartimeus and 
said, "Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee." 
Bartimeus threw away his cloak so he could run 
faster and hurried to Jesus. 

Jesus said, ''What wilt thou that I should do unto 
thee?" 

Bartimeus answered, "Lord, give me my sight." 

And Jesus said, "Go thy way, thy faith hath made 
thee whole," that is, "because you believe that I can 
make you see, I will do so." 

And immediately he received his sight and fol- 
lowed Jesus. Then he and all the people who saw 
what had been done praised and thanked God. 

I wish I had time to tell you of many, many others 
whom Jesus healed. He made the sick well, the 
lame walk and helped every one who came to Him. 

We can see Jesus no longer, children dear, but He 
is still very close to us. If our friends are ill, we 
can pray to Him and He will help the doctors give 
the right medicine and the mothers and nurses take 
good care of them, so they may get well. Or if we 
are in pain ourselves, we can go to Jesus, the Great 
Physician, and ask Him to make us well. 



104 



SUBJECT— THE POOR IN SPIRIT. 

Matthew ^ .-3. 
Picture— DANTE. 



STORY.* 

How many of you have been to church, children ? 
Do you remember that after the people have sung 
and have thanked God, as we do here, for all His 

goodness to them, Dr. (mention the minister's 

name) preaches a sermon? Would you like to hear 
to-day of a sermon that Jesus preached? 

Where do you think He gave it ? Not in a church 
but up on a mountain, so it is called the ''Sermon on 
the Mount." 

One evening, instead of going to bed, Jesus went 
up on to a mountain and spent the whole night talk- 
ing to His heavenly Father. Early in the morning 
His disciples, the twelve men whom He especially 
loved, came to Him and He told them what He 
wished them to do. He said they were always to be 
with Him, to help Him work for God. 

As he was talking to them, the people down below, 
who had been looking for Him, saw Him. They 
cried out, "There is Jesus ! Let us go up to Him." 

Jesus first healed all who were ill and then, going 
up a little higher where He could look into the faces 

♦Adapted from "In Story Land," ("The Vision of Dante") by kind 
permission of its author, Elizabeth Harrison. 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

of all the multitude which had come to hear Him, He 
began to preach this wonderful sermon. 'Tis very 
long so I can only give you the beginning to-day. 
But I will tell you more on other Sundays and when 




you are older, I know you will like to read it all from 
the Bible. 

The first words are these : ''Blessed are the poor 
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," which 
means that the people who are willing to let others 

1 06 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

be first, who enjoy praising others rather than being 
praised themselves are those whom Jesus will re- 
ward. Sometimes even little children think they are 
better than others and have a right to the best things, 
do they not? 

Would you like to hear a beautiful story that a 
great poet' wrote a long, long time ago, which grown 
people have loved to read ever since and which I 
think will help you undersand these words of Jesus. 
'Twas such a wonderful story that it has helped 
people to paint beautiful pictures, to carve lovely 
statues, to compose grand music, to preach great 
sermons and best of all to live better, nobler lives. 

As only older people could understand this story, 
a kind lady who loves little children rewrote it for 
them, a little while ago. To-day I can tell you just 
a little of it, but I hope you will ask your mothers to 
read it all to you sometime. 

It is about a man who lived long, long ago and 
who had been proud and selfish and had done many 
wrong things. His name was Dante and he tells 
the story of himself. 

He begins by saying that he wandered a long way 
from his home and at last had gone to sleep in a 
great forest. When he awoke he tried to find his 
way out. Through an opening where the tall trees 
had not grown quite so thick, he saw in the distance 
a great mountain, on the top of which the sun was 
shining brightly. 

''Ah !" he thought, ''if I can but reach the top of 
that mountain, I am sure I can see a long way in 
every direction and can tell just where to go." 

107 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



So he started toward it but he had not walked far 
when he saw a large, spotted panther, standing with 
glaring eyes in his pathway. In great fear he turned 
into another path, but he soon saw a huge lion com- 
ing toward him. Trembling, he tried still another 
way, but there was a hungry wolf. He fled back 
into the dark woods, thinking he should never escape 
from the great forest. 

Just at this moment he saw a man coming toward 
him. The face of the man was beaming with smiles 
as if he had some good news to tell. Dante ran 
forward to meet him, crying : ''Have mercy on me, 
whoever you are ! See that beast from which I 
have fled ! I am trembling yet with fright." 

The man, whose name was Virgil, said : ''I have 
come to help you but I shall have to take 3^ou by a 
very strange and hard path to get out of the forest. It 
will be very dark and dirty and many unpleasant 
things will happen to you as we journey, but if you 
are brave, at last you will see the light and come to 
the top of a beautiful mountain, called Paradise, 
from which lovely place you can go home if you 
wish." 

At first Dante was afraid to go with Virgil, but 
when he heard that Beatrice, whom he loved better 
than any one else, had come from heaven to ask 
Virgil to help him, he was so happy that he said he 
would go. 

I have not time to tell you of the terrible journey 
they had getting out of the forest — you must read 
about it when you are older — but after walking a 
long, long way through the darkness, Dante saw 

1 08 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

four beautiful stars shining over his head. Oh, how 
good it was to see their light again ! 

He found that he and Virgil were on a large 
island and in the middle of it stood a great moun- 
tain which they must climb. As they were looking 
about them, not knowing exactly which way to turn, 
they saw an old man with a long white beard. His 
face was so radiant that it reminded Dante of the 
stars at which he had been gazing. 

The old man told them where to go to begin 
climbing the mountain but he said that Virgil must 
first get the grime and dirt off of Dante. You know 
we cannot very well get into dirty places without 
having some of the dirt stick to us. He also told 
them where they could find some rushes to tie up 
Dante's long cloak, so that he might climb the better. 
I think it must have been the old man's kindness to 
the many strangers who came to the island that 
caused his face to shine like the stars. 

As Dante thought of his past life, how he had 
wandered away from his home, of the gloomy forest, 
the terrible beasts and then of the long, hard journey 
and all the dirt which had clung to him, the tears 
rolled down his cheeks. Virgil stooped and wet his 
hands with the dew which lay on the grass and with 
this washed Dante's face, which his tears of sorrow 
had already made cleaner. He fastened up his long 
cloak with the rushes, of which the old man had 
told him, and then he was ready to climb. 

As they went up, they saw a great gate in front of 
them. 

109 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

''We must pass through that gate," said Virgil, 
''and before you enter it, I must tell you that there 
will be some very hard climbing and sometimes you 
will grow weary and discouraged. But the hardest 
part will come first and the path will grow easier 
and easier as you near the top, until, when you 
reach Paradise, there will be no longer any climbing 
at all. There you shall see your beloved Beatrice 
and she will reveal to you a vision of God." 

As they came nearer the gate, they saw a wonder- 
ful angel in shining garments sitting at the gate, 
who asked them what they wanted. They told him 
they wished to go through the gate in order that 
they might climb the miountain. The angel leaned 
forward and with the edge of the sword which he 
held in his hand, he made on Dante's forehead seven 
letters which stood for the seven things that were 
wrong inside of his heart. Then the angel took 
from his side a silver key and a golden key and un- 
locking the gate with each, he let it swing wide open 
and our two travellers passed through. 

As they walked along the path which wound up- 
ward, they saw upon the rocks at their sides wonder- 
fully carved pictures of people who had been good 
and kind and always thoughtful of others instead of 
themselves. As Dante looked at them, they seemed 
to him to be the most marvelous pictures he had ever 
seen. He thought within his heart, "How beautiful ! 
How beautiful! How I wish I could be like these 
people !" 

Then he turned and looked down on the rocks on 
which he was treading, and there he saw more carv- 

IIO 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

ings upon the stones ; but these were of people who 
thought of nobody but themselves; haughty people, 
selfish people and idle ones. As Dante gazed upon 
them, he bowed himself lower and lower, for he 
thought, "I fear I am more like these people than 
I am like the others." 

He had been a proud and haughty man in the 
past and now he knew how ugly and selfish that 
haughtiness was. As he ascended the road, he prayed 
to God to make him more like the beautiful and 
gentle people whose pictures he had seen upon the 
rocks at his side. 

He had been walking with his head bowed down ; 
all at once he straightened himself up ; he felt as if 
some great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. 
He turned to Virgil, saying, ''Master from what 
heavy thing have I been lightened?" 

Virgil glanced up at his forehead. Dante put up 
his hand and felt the letters which the angel had 
put upon his forehead. There had been seven. There 
were but six. Virgil smiled and the two passed on. 

Now their ears caught the sound of voices singing 
in sweet tones, "Blessed are the poor in spirit! 
Blessed are the poor in spirit !" 

Then Dante knew that other souls, too, had prayed 
to God to take pride and haughtiness and selfish- 
ness out of their hearts. 

As they went up, many other wonderful things 
happened to them and, one by one, all those terrible 
letters were taken from Dante's forehead. The 
climbing grew easier and easier, as Virgil had said 
it would, and at last they reached the spot called 

III 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Paradise. Here Dante found his loving Beatrice 
who took him by the hand and led him up into 
heaven itself, beyond the clouds, beyond the stars, 
beyond planets and worlds, even to the foot of the 
throne of God ! Of this I cannot tell you. No 
words of mine could make you see that glorious 
vision as Dante then beheld it. 

But, children, he could not have had this wonder- 
ful vision, unless all pride and haughtiness and 
selfishness had gone out of his heart and he had 
become one of the "poor in spirit," whom Jesus said 
should be blessed. (Suggest that this verse be 
learned by the children.) 



IT2 



SUBJECT— THE SORROWFUL 

Matthew ^ :^. 
Picture— CHRIST THE CONSOLER— Plockh6rst. 



STORY. 



How many of you can say the verse I asked you 
to learn last Sunday? (Have Matthew 5 13 repeated 
by those who know it.) Do you remember who 
spoke these words? Yes, Jesus. And can you tell 
me where He was and to whom He was speaking? 
Yes, on the mountain preaching to the disciples and 
a great multitude of people. 

To-day I want to tell you the next words He 
said after those you have just learned. They begin 
with "Blessed," too, which means happy, you know. 
"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be 
comforted." "They that mourn," means those who 
are crying, or who are in trouble, or who feel sorry 
for something. Doesn't it seem strange to say, 
"Happy are those who are in trouble?" We think 
it ought to be "Sad or unhappy are those who are 
crying," do we not? But Jesus said they were 
"Blessed" (or happy) "because they should be 
comforted." 

How nice it is to have some one to go to, if we are 
in trouble. Sometimes a little boy falls and bumps 
his head, and then perhaps his sister rubs the place 

113 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

that was struck and kisses it and the Httle fellow 
feels better at once. Or he is playing with a knife 
and cuts his finger and, when he runs crying to 
mamma, she puts on a little piece of court-plaster 




which keeps it from bleeding any more. Then I 
think she holds her little boy a few moments until 
he is comforted. 

Or perhaps a litle girl breaks her dolly's head. I 
know how sorry she is, as she loves her dolly very 

114 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

much. But papa comes in and says : ''Don't cry my 
little girl ; let's play papa was a doctor." 

Then he gets some glue and mends the head care- 
fully and pretty soon dolly is as good as new, and 
the dear little girl is happy because papa was her 
comforter. 

Or perhaps some little children are going on a 
picnic. They have been hoping the day would come 
quickly for they want so much to go they can hardly 
wait. But alas ! when the day comes, it rains and 
they must stay at home. They are so disappointed 
it dosen't seem as if they want to do anything else, 
but grandma says : "Come up m my room ; I have a 
surprise for you." 

They find she has some pipes and some soapsuds 
in a bowl and they have such fun blowing bubbles. 
After awhile she has a nice little tea party for them 
and they have such a happy time they forget all 
about the picnic. Don't you think dear grandma 
comforts them nicely? 

As Jesus looked into the faces of the people 
gathered about him on the mountain, He saw so 
many that looked as if they needed comfort. You 
know sometimes our faces tell that we are happy 
and again they tell that we are in trouble. When 
little children's eyes shine like the sunshine, we 
can tell how happy they are. "The fathers' and the 
mothers' faces, too, speak to u&t Very often father's 
face looks strong and brave, as if he were ready to 
do some hard work ; and mother's face tells how- 
much she loves us. So the faces of the people who 
were with Jesus spoke to Him. There were some 

IT5 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

there who, Jesus knew, were very sorrowful. They 
were sorry for the wrong they had done and they 
wished that they might be more loving and good."* 
Others showed that they were in pain and others 
looked sad and lonely because some friend had left 
them. As Jesus looked at them, He longed to help 
them to be good, to relieve their pain and to make 
them less sad and lonely. 

I think He remembered the beautiful words that 
the Bible had said of Him, long, long before, ''As 
one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort 
you," and I know he longed to comfort these poor 
people and make them glad and happy, just as a 
dear mother would comfort a little crying child. 
So He said the sweet words which I want you to 
learn, "Blessed" (happy) "are they that mourn, for 
they shall be comforted." 

Children dear, Jesus will still comfort us just as 
he comforted the people on the mountain. Once, 
when some men were in trouble (they had lost a 
very dear friend and were so sad) the Bible tells us 
"they went and told Jesus." We can do that, also, 
when we are in trouble. Let us just kneel down 
and tell Jesus all about it and I know he will comfort 
us and make us happy once more. Will you learn 
this beautiful verse and say it to me next Sunday? 

♦From "The Kinderg-arten Sunday-school," by Frederica Beard. 



ii6 



SUBJECT— THE MERCIFUL 

Matthew ^ :'/. 
Picture— -KISS ME"— Holmes. 

Song— "MORNING PRAYER,"— first verse. 

{From '■'■ Childhood Songs,'' p^g^ S.) 



STORY. 



Do you remember, children, the story I told you 
of Dante who learned to think less of himself and 
more of other people? When a little child thinks 
only of himself, we say he is a selfish child, but when 
he thinks of others and does kind, thoughtful things 
for them, we say he is unselfish. 

Once I visited a lovely lady who spent all her 
life in trying to make other people comfortable and 
happy. She had a pretty summer home right on the 
edge of a great forest through which many paths 
had been cut and as she walked in them, she would 
stoop down and pick up a branch which the wind 
had blown there, or a stone which might trip some 
one and throw it out of the way, so the paths would 
be pleasanter for others. 

Jesus loves those who think first of others and 
when He was on the mountain preaching the sermon 
of which I told you, He said, ''Blessed are the merci- 
ful, for they shall obtain mercy." This means that 
those who are kind to people and also to animals 

117 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

or birds that are in trouble will receive kindness 
from others. 

Would you now like to hear a story which I read 
once about a little girl who was kind and merciful to 




all she met? It is called 'The Little Girl's Visit 
to the King,"* and I do not know who wrote it. 

A long time ago, there lived a king who had a 
great many beautiful castles in different parts of the 

*Froin ''Kindergarten Review." 

ii8 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

country, and he used to live a little while in every 
one, so that he could see all his people and give them 
the chance to tell him all their troubles ; then he 
would help them, whenever he could. One of his 
castles was in a beautiful country with many great 
trees which had been there for years and years and 
years. A clear, beautiful lake stretched back of the 
castle grounds, glistening and sparkling when the 
sun shone upon it ; and lovely flowers bloomed every- 
where, while birds sang sweetly in the trees and 
hopped through the grass. One day word was re- 
ceived that the king was coming there to visit his 
castle, and an invitation was sent to all the people, 
far and near, to come and ask this kind king for 
whatever they might need. 

On the other side of the forest from this castle, 
there lived a man and his wife, and their little girk 
the only child they had. The father worked very 
hard all day, chopping wood out in the forest, yet 
he could scarcely keep the roof over their heads and 
get food enough for them to live on. The poor 
mother had been sick all summer, and the little girl 
(a very little girl she was, too!) had to do all the 
work about the house, to cook all that they had to 
eat, and to take care of her sick mother. The 
weather was getting very cold and they had little to 
eat, and the mother seemed to be getting worse each 
day instead of better ; so the little girl felt very sad 
and sorrowful. When she heard that the king was 
so near, she wished that she could go and ask him 
to make her mother well and to give them plenty to 
eat. 

119 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Just as she was thinking about this, she saw that 
her mother was sound asleep, so she opened the door 
softly and started through the forest. As she was 
hurrying along, she heard something crying, "Peep, 
peep!" and looking around, she saw a little brown 
bird lying in the road, with one of its wings bent 
under it. 

"Can I help you?" asked the little girl, picking it 
up. 

''Just rub my wing a little ; I think it will be well 
then," said the bird. And, sure enough, as soon 
as the little girl rubbed the wing a little, it was well. 

"Where are you going, little girl?" asked the bird. 

"I am going to see the king. Would you like to 
go with me?" asked the little girl. 

"Certainly; I shall be delighted to go with you," 
said the little bird. 

So the bird flew along, talking to her, until, as 
they walked on, they heard something say, "Meow, 
meow !" and there lay a little white cat on the 
ground, with one of its paws caught in ? trap. 

"Can I help you ?" asked the little girl. 

"Just -open this trap and I can run all right," said 
the cat. 

So the little girl stooped down and opened the 
trap, and the cat jumped up and could walk as well 
as ever. 

"Where are you going?" asked the cat. 

"I am going to the king. Would you like to go 
with me ?" asked the little girl. 

"Certainly I shall be delighted to go with you," 
said the cat. 

I20 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

So the little girl and the bird and the cat went on 
their wa}^ to the king. The cat talked, and the bird 
talked, and the little girl talked, and they walked 
and walked until they were almost to the forest, 
when they heard something say, ''Bow-wow ! Bow- 
wow !" and looking around, they saw a little black 
dog lying on the ground. A big branch of a tree 
had fallen down on his foot, as he was lying there 
asleep. 

"Can I help you?" asked the little girl. 

"Just pull this branch off, and I can run along all 
right," answered the little dog. 

So the little girl pulled the branch off, and the 
dog jumped up and was well again. 

''Where are you going?" asked the dog. 

"I am going to the king. Would you like to go 
along?" 

"Certainly ; I shall be delighted to go with you," 
replied the dog. 

So the dog and the cat and the bird all went with 
the little girl to see the king. 

When they came to the end of the forest, they 
saw the top of the castle rising above the trees ; and 
so many, many people were crowding around that 
the. little girl began to be afraid that she would not 
be able to get close to the king. 

As she was talking about this, the cat said : "You 
helped me once, so now I will help you. I will run 
around, and the people will move aside, because they 
will not want to step on me. As they move around, 
you stay close to me and slip through the crowd." 

121 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Then the dog said : "You helped me once, so now 
I will help you. After we get near to the king, I 
will bark so loudly that he will have to stop talking, 
and then he will look around to see what is the 
matter." 

Then up spoke the little bird: "Once you helped 
me, so now I will help you. When the dog has 
barked, I will fly around the king's head and sing, 
Xook behind you ! Look behind you !' And when 
he looks he will find you." 

So the cat began to run around among the people, 
and as they moved to give the cat a little room, the 
dog and the bird and the little girl slipped in and 
followed the cat. But, sure enough, when they came 
to where the king was sitting, there were so many 
people talking that the king could not hear the little 
girl's voice at all. Then the dog began to bark, as 
he had promised ; and he barked and barked so 
loudly that the people and the king could not hear 
each other, and had to stop talking. Just as they 
stopped, the little bird began to fly around the king's 
head and sing, "Look behind you ! Look behind 
you !" And the king was so astonished to hear the 
bird talking that he looked around and saw the little 
girl. 

"What do you want, little one?" asked the king. 

Then the little girl told the king about her sick 
mother and how little there was to eat at her home, 
and she asked the king if he could help her. 

So the king gave her a bottle of some wonderful 
medicine that would make her mother better and a 
bag of gold dollars that the family might never need 

122 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

to go hungry again, and some beautiful dresses for 
the httle girl herself, and he ordered his beautiful 
carriage for her to ride home in, that she might not 
get tired walking back. So the little girl took the 
cat and the dog and the bird, and rode home. 

And as soon as her mother had seen her and had 
taken some of the medicine she felt better. Before 
many days she was up and around the house, and 
was soon well and strong. 

The next day the king sent for the little girl's 
father and gave him plenty of well-paid work to do 
in the king's own forest ; so that the family never 
suffered want again. 

Before long, they built a nice, new house, and 
when they moved into it they took the cat and the 
dog and the bird with them, and these good creatures 
had happy times all day long in the beautiful garden 
which belonged to the new house. 

In the picture you can see the little girl and her 
playfellows, one of them the little dog which went 
wnth her to the king. 



123 



SUBJECT— THE PURE IN HEART. 

Matthew S-S. 
Picture— SIR GALAHAD— Watts. 

Song— "MORNING PRAYER," second verse. 
( From * ' Childhood Songs, ' ' page 8. ) 



STORY. 



We have been talking, children, of the wonderful 
sermon, which Christ preached on the mountain. 
Can you tell me the "Blessed" verses we have already 
had? (Review those that have been committed.) 
To-day would you like one more of these verses, 
which Christ gave to that listening multitude? It 
is, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
God." I have a beautiful story to tell you which I 
think will help you understand what these words 
mean. 'Tis one which people have loved to hear for 
hundreds of years, just as they did Dante's story. 

Alany, many years ago there was a great and good 
king, whose name was Arthur. I wish you might 
have' seen the beautiful palace in which he lived. On 
the outside were many wonderfully carved statues 
and on the top a large figure of the king with golden 
crown and golden w^ngs. At evening, when the sun 
was setting, the crown and wings would flash like 
fmr so people could see them for many miles, and 
then they would say: "We have a great king who 
cares for us and will protect us." 

124 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Inside the palace was an immense hall which had 
twelve windows with wonderful pictures painted on 
the o-lass. In this hall was a great table, so large 



that one 



hundred and fifty men could sit 




about it. It was called "The Round Table," and the 
men who lived with Arthur were called his knights. 
Only very brave men could be knights, and they 
spent their time in working for others and in keep- 
ing all harm away from the weak and helpless. 

125 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

In those days people believed that there was a 
wonderful cup, called the "Holy Grail," which would 
make a man well, if he were ill, and do other mar- 
vellous things. But only those who had lived pure, 
noble lives could see it. 

Now I want to tell you of a little baby who was 
born not far from Arthur's palace. As a sweet 
woman was holding him one day, an angel brought 
this cup for him to see, and he stretched out his 
little hands toward it. This baby's name was Gala- 
had, and when he became a young man, he went to 
king Arthur and asked to be one of his knights. He 
was younger than any of the others, but he looked 
so strong and brave that the king told him to kneel 
and he would make him a knight. Then he asked 
him to promise to be always brave and gentle, pure, 
loving and obedient. Galahad promised, and then 
the king touched his shoulder with his sword, and 
said : "Rise, Sir Galahad ; God make thee as good as 
thou art beautiful." 

He was dressed all in white and was given a suit 
of silver armor, that means a tall helmet, or hat, and 
a coat made of steel. He had steel shoes, also, and 
steel gloves, which were so strong that nothing could 
hurt them. 

At the great Round Table in Arthur's palace was 
one seat that no one had ever sat upon, because the 
king had been told that he must save it for the knight 
who should be the bravest and best of all. King 
Arthur felt sure Galahad would be his best knight, 
so he let him take this seat. 

126 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

One day a poor girl who was in trouble had asked 
the king to help her, and so he and some of his 
knights had ridden away to give her assistance. 

While the other knights sat at dinner, a great 
storm arose ; the thunder pealed and crashed, and 
the lightning flashed and blazed. Suddenly a beam 
of light shot through the great hall, and in it the 
wonderful cup, covered over with a red cloth, ap- 
peared for a moment and then vanished. The 
knights rose to their feet, blinded by the bright 
light. As the cup had been covered, they could 
not see it as they longed to do. They said, therefore, 
that they would start out and search the whole world 
over until they found it. When the king came back, 
he was sorry his knights had made this promise, 
for he did not wish them to go away from him, but 
he knew they must keep their word. I wish you 
might have seen them, children, as they rode away 
on their beautiful horses. Their armor flashed and 
gleamed, and they looked so strong and brave. The 
king and queen were very sad and so were all the 
others, when they bade them good-bye. 

The knights had many strange things happen to 
them, as they searched for the wonderful cup, but I 
have only time to tell you of Sir Galahad. 

He went first to a lovely woman, who had seen 
the cup. She was sweet and pure and had such 
beautiful eyes that you could tell just by looking into 
them how good she was. She told Galahad, 
that on^ night she was awakened by sweet music, 
which seemed to come from a silver horn. As she 
knelt down, there streamed into her room a bright 

127 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

light, and in it she saw the Holy Grail. 'Twas a 
lovely rose-color, so brilliant that a rosy light was 
thrown from it upon the white walls of her room. 
When Galahad heard of this vision that had come to 
her, his eyes became as beautiful as hers, filled with a 
pure, holy light. She bound about his waist a 
strong belt for his sword, which she had made out 
of her own hair, and said that he must not only be 
king Arthur's knight but hers, also, as he searched 
for the wonderful cup. 

Galahad started on his journey, and soon he 
heard of some fair ladies, whom seven wicked men 
had shut up in a castle. Galahad rode as fast as he 
could, and when he reached the castle, he drove all 
the bad men away. Then he sent for some good 
men, who should take care of these ladies. 

At another time, some wicked men attacked a 
friend of Galahad and tried to kill him. Galahad 
heard them fighting, and he rode quickly to help him. 
He pulled out his sword, knocked one man from his 
horse, struck others, also, and at last drove them all 
away. 

The next day he found an old man who had not 
been treated kindly. Some cruel men had put him 
in prison and left him to suffer. Galahad opened 
the prison doors, took the old man in his arms and 
cared for him as lovingly as if he had been his own 
father. 

Once when he knew that one of his friends must 
go to a dangerous place where he might be hurt, 
Galahad went into a little church and prayed all 

128 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



night to God to take care of him and keep him from 
danger. 

I wish I had time to tell you, children, of all the 
loving, helpful things Galahad did for others. Do 
you know why he could always drive away the 
wicked people ? It was because he had such a pure 
heart. He had never done an unkind act nor 
spoken a cross, bad word nor even had a selfish, 
naughty thought. Would you like me to tell you a 
little verse which he could say? 

"My strength is as the strength of ten, 
Because my heart is pure ;" 
that means he could do as much as ten men, because 
he had such a pure heart. 

The story tells us, children, that Galahad often 
saw this wonderful cup, which the knights started 
out to find, and after awhile he went up to heaven 
to be with God. 

I am sure he was one of the blessed of whom 
Jesus told, when He said : "Blessed are the pure in 
heart, for they shall see God." 



129 



SUBJECT— THE PEACEMAKERS. 

Matthew j .-p. 
Picture— GOING HOME FROM SCHOOL- 

BoUGUEREAU. 

Song— "GOD SENDS HIS BRIGHT SPRING SUN," second verse. 
(^From '•^ Songs for Little Children^^' ■volume /, page /. ) 



STORY. 

To-day, children, I wish to give you the last of 
the "Blessed" verses which we shall have. There 
are others that I think you will understand better 
when you are older and I hope you will learn them 
then. The one we shall have now is so beautiful. 
It is "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be 
called the children of God." I wonder if you know 
who peacemakers are ? I think I will tell you a little 
story to help you understand this word. 

Once upon a time, a great many years ago, there 
was a pretty little cottage out in the country. There 
were lovely vines growing over the porch and bright 
flowers blossoming in the garden. In the little cot- 
tage lived a sweet woman and her husband and 
they wanted just one thing to make them perfectly 
happy. Can you guess what that was? Yes, they 
longed for a little child. 

At last God sent them a little baby girl, and it 
seemed as if the sun had never shone so brightly 
nor the birds sung so sweetly as on that happy day. 

130 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



The papa and mamma decided to call their little 
daughter, Gladys, to show how glad she had made 
them by coming from heaven to stay in their home. 
It was such a delight to them to watch her cunning 




baby ways. She laughed and crowed and was just 
the happiest little child one could find. As she grew 
older, it seemed to her mamma and papa that she 
became sweeter and dearer every day. 

131 



KINDERGAR TEN STORIES 

She loved the flowers and used to help her mamma 
care for them by bringing water for the thirsty ones 
and picking off the withered leaves and blossoms. 
Such pretty plays as she had with them ! The petu- 
nias made such nice dollies ; she would put one over 
another, so they seemed to have different bright 
colored petticoats and the stem, turned upside down, 
made the head. Then she made long chains of 
dandelions or daisies, and wreaths of leaves. 

She liked to sew the leaves, also, and make pretty 
pictures. She would put one down on a card, draw 
carefully around its edge, then prick this line and 
sew it with bright green worsted. Afterwards, she 
would color the inside with a green pencil or with 
green chalk. 

When the seeds of the lady's-slippers were ripe, 
she loved to pop them, as they sounded just like tor- 
pedoes. Her mamma told her that these flowers 
were called ''Touch-me-nots," when she was a little 
girl, because they popped when touched. 

When Gladys was tired of play, mamma would 
tell her stories and oh, how she loved to hear them ! 
On Sunday the}^ would be from the Bible and after 
she had heard them, she would often learn a little 
verse to say to papa. 

One day, mamma gave her the verse w^e have to- 
day, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be 
called the children of God." 

''Who are peacemakers, Mamma," asked Glad3^s. 

"They are those who make peace, dear," said 
mamma, "and peace means quiet and happiness. If 
a little child should see two others quarrelling and 

132 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

should try to stop them and get them to be kind to 
each other, she would be a peacemaker. But a 
peacemaker isn't only one who stops quarrels ; I 
think it means, also, one who tries to make every 
one feel comfortable and happy," 

As Gladys learned the little verse, she kept think- 
ing, 'Td like to be a little peacemaker." 

The next week some of her mother's friends came 
to make a visit and they brought their two little girls 
with them. Gladys was glad to have some playmates 
and the three children had happy times together. 

One day, Gladys had gone on an errand for her 
mother and when she returned, she heard screams 
from the play room. She ran to the door and there 
she saw Katie and Dora holding on to a dolly and 
each trying to pull it away from the other. 

"It's mine," said Katie, "Uncle Fred gave it to 
me. 

He did not,'' said Dora, "he gave it to me and 
you shan't have it !" 

Just then Katie gave a big jerk, the poor dolly's 
arm came off, and over fell both little girls on the 
floor ! 

Gladys ran in and said, "Oh, what is the matter ?" 

The little girls sobbed out that their Uncle Fred 
had given them both dollies and each was sure 
this was hers. 

Gladys said : "Why let's hunt for the other one, 
it must be near, as I'm sure I saw two this morning." 

They began to look and soon the missing doll was 
found under the bed. Then Gladys got a needle 
and as she was older than her little friends and had 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

learned to sew quite nicely, she sewed the dolly's 
arm on very firmly. The little girls were soon happy 
again with their two dollies. 

A few days after this, as Gladys was coming home 
from school, she saw a little brother and sister just 
in front of her. The little girl was crying and say- 
ing: "I tan't run so fast, Fs tired." 

The brother was trying to pull her along, for it 
was cold and he wanted to get home. Gladys hap- 
pened to have some candy, so she ran up and said, 
^'Wouldn't you like some of my candy?" 

The children stopped and took some eagerly. Then 
Gladys said, "Why your little sister's mittens are off 
and her hands are so cold !" She warmed the little 
hands in hers, for a moment, drew on the mittens, 
and then she said, ''Now give brother one hand and 
me the other and see how fast we can run." 

The little girl laughed and ran along quite merrily, 
and very soon their home was reached. 

One day, at school, one of Gladys' friends couldn't 
learn her lesson. She became very cross and when 
Gladys spoke to her, she answered in a fretful, ugly 
way. Gladys was about to say ''How cross you are ! 
I won't play with you any more." 

But she remembered just in time that a little 
peacemaker wouldn't speak in that way, so she said, 
instead : "What is the matter ? Can I help you ?" 

Her little friend answered: "I'm sorry I was so 
cross, but I can't do this sum." 

Gladys sat down by her and they soon worked it 
out together. 

134 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

That afternoon, when Gladys reached home, 
mamma said: "I've just heard that Aunt Lucy is ill, 
dear. Wouldn't vou like to take some thins^s to her ?" 

''Yes, indeed," said Gladys. 

Mamma packed a basket with some jelly and fruit 
and then put in a bottle of grape juice. Gladys, also, 
took a book of pictures to show her little baby cousin. 

''Tell Aunt Lucy I'll come over soon," said 
mamma. 

Gladys ran quickly to her aunt's home and there 
she found the nurse so busy that the baby had been 
left alone. He was crying, when Gladys came in, 
but after she had given the things to her aunt, she 
showed him the pictures and played with him till 
he was as happy as a bird. 

After awhile mamma came and Aunt Lucy said 
to her, ''What a dear little blessing Gladys is !" 

"Yes," replied mamma, "I call her my little peace- 
maker, for she makes peace wherever she goes. No 
one can quarrel, or be unhappy, when she is with 
them." 



^ZS 



SUBJECT— -YE ARE THE LIGHT." 

Matthew j : 14-16. 
Picture— A LITTLE LIGHT. 

Song— "JESUS BIDS US SHINE." 

i^From ^'■Childhood Songs," P'^S^ S^-) 



STORY. 



Once upon a time, children, there was a large 
house, surrounded by beautiful grounds, on a quiet 
street in a little country town. Flowers blossomed 
in the garden, tall apple trees, with bright red apples, 
stood in the orchard, while from the wide porch 
one could look across to the distant hills. 

Upstairs was such a pretty room which I wish 
you might have seen. Delicate pink paper was on 
the w^alls and many pictures hung there. On the 
dresser was a little pink candle, standing in a candle- 
stick that looked like a pink rose. 

One day when every one had left the room, what 
do you think happened ? Why suddenly the sweetest 
music was heard. It seemed to come from the organ 
in one of the pictures, w^here a lovely woman, whose 
name was Cecilia, sat playing. Then more and more 
music filled the room. Some angels, who were also 
in the picture, began playing on harps and violins, 
while Cecilia sang such a beautiful song. In another 
picture a boat began to glide slowly over the water, 

136 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

while the sailor's voices rang out as they called to 
one another. Then a dear little baby girl jumped 
out from her frame on the table and running over to 
the dresser, began talking to the little ''Dutch Baby," 




who stood there. They each took a bite of the apple 
the little "Dutch Baby" had been holding and oh, 
hov^ good it tasted ! Then they ran about the room, 
picking flowers from other pictures and having a 
happy play. 

137 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Just here the electric hghts, which hung over the 
dresser, began to speak, and what do you suppose 
they said ? They called to the pretty lamp that stood 
on the table: "Don't you wish you were as bright as 
we are? Why, when we are lit, we make the whole 
room as light as day." 

The lamp replied : "Well, some people prefer my 
light ; 'tis softer and not so dazzling as yours and 'tis 
very pleasant when one wishes to read." 

Just here the little candle spoke, "I, too, can give 
a pretty light." 

But both the electric lights and the lamp began to 
laugh very rudely. "You give a light !" they cried. 
"Why you are so tiny no one could see you and you 
wouldn't do a bit of good." 

The little candle replied : "You need not laugh : 
even little people can often help and I am always 
ready to be used." 

That night the dear mother, who slept in that 
room, heard her little child cough. She was troubled 
and thought some medicine would help her. So she 
arose and turned the button to light the electric 
lights, but — no light came. The wires were out of 
order and the little globes stayed dark. Then the 
mother thought of the lamp and she struck a match 
and tried to light it but the flame appeared for only 
a moment and then went out. The maid had forgot- 
ten to put any oil in, so it wouldn't burn. 

The mother was so troubled for she knew she 
couldn't find the medicine in the dark. Just then she 
remembered the little candle and striking another 
match, she lit it. It was so glad to be of use and 

1^.8 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

though its flame was tiny, it was quite big enough to 
show the mother where the medicine was, which she 
wished to give to her dear Httle girl. She bent over 
and kissed her and tucked her up warmly. Then, 
as she blew out the candle, she said : 'Tm so glad, 
little friend, that you didn't fail me like the electricity 
and lamp, for I couldn't then have given my darling 
the medicine which I know will stop her cough." 

After Jesus had given the people the beautiful 
"Blessed" verses, which we have been learning. He 
told them that he wished them to be like the light. 
He said : ''Men do not light a candle and put it under 
a bushel (that is under something that would hide 
it). Instead they place it on a candle-stick where it 
will give light to all that are in the house." 

He wnshed us, also, to give light which would help 
others to love Him. The light scatters the darkness, 
does it not? When people are troubled or sad, it 
seems as if everything was dark about them and then 
they love to have bright, happy people come to cheer 
them. 

Now would you like to learn a song about a little 
candle ? 

"Jesus bids us shine 

With a pure, clear light. 
Like a little candle. 

Burning in the night; 
In the world is darkness. 

So we must shine. 
You in your small corner, 

And I in mine. 

139 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

"Jesus bids us shine 

First of all for Him, 
Well He sees and knows it 

If our light grows dim ; 
He looks down from heaven 

To see us shine. 
You in your small corner, 

And I in mine." 

Are we not glad to know that we can shine for 
Jesus and can make Him happy, when we are bright 
and helpful like the little candle? 

''Jesus bids us shine 

Then, for all around; 
For many kinds of darkness, 

In the world are found, 
Sin and want and sorrow; 

So we must shine, 
You in your small corner. 

And I in mine." 

Will you try to be like a little candle this week, 
children, and drive away all sadness and sorrow? 
W^hen dear mamma is troubled, I'm sure if you put 
your little arms about her and tell her how much you 
love her, she will forget she is tired and sad. I 
shall want you to tell me next Sunday of the loving 
things you have done to bring the light to those 
about you. 



140 



SUBJECT— THE BIRDS. 

Matthew 6:26 ; io:2g,ji. {R. V.) 
Picture— SPARROWS— Laux. 

Song— "THE BIRDS' NEST." 

(^From ^' Songs of the Child World,'' page /o.) 



STORY. 



How can we tell that spring has come, children? 
Yes, the grass is getting green, the leaves are com- 
ing on trees and bushes and the flowers are begin- 
ning to blossom. What flowers have you seen? 
Dandelions, hepaticas, violets, hyacinths, tulips and 
others. Isn't it lovely to see them all again after 
their winter's sleep? 

But what else tells us that spring is here? Why, 
yes, the birds. What happy little friends they arc, 
with their bright colored dresses and their sweet 
voices filling the air with music. Let us talk of the 
birds to-day and see how many things you have 
noticed about them. 

Can you tell me what they have that you have, 
also? Yes, eyes, and these are so bright that they 
see much farther than we can. When the gulls fly 
high over the steamers, they can see the little pieces 
of bread which people throw down to them, even in 
the foaming water. Little insects, so tiny we should 
not notice them, seem very big to a robin. Birdies 

141 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

have ears, too, though you could not easily find 
them, as they are under their feathers, but they can 
hear very plainly. (Draw out other points of re- 
semblance — bodies, mouths, feet, etc.) 




Now tell me what the birds have that is different 
from anything of yours ? Yes, their clothes are dif- 
ferent. Instead of wearing coats and trousers like 
the boys or dresses like the girls, they are clothed in 
feathers. What color are the robin's feathers; the 

142 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

bluebird's ; the oriole's ? Where do they get them, — 
do their mammas make them, or do they buy them 
at a store ? No, God gives them their pretty clothing 
and they have no trouble about it. 

■What do they have to eat; oatmeal, beefsteak, 
vegetables, cake and ice cream? I'm afraid birdies 
wouldn't like all these things as you do. No, they 
eat instead insects, worms and other tiny creatures 
which destroy the plants, spoil the wheat and corn 
and kill the trees, so they do a great deal to keep 
the world beautiful for us to enjoy. They like bread, 
too, and in winter when it is so hard for them to find 
food, I think it would be very nice if you would 
remember to give them some crumbs every day. 

Can you tell me where they live? Yes, in nests. 
Have their homes many rooms ; bedrooms, a parlor, 
dining-room arid kitchen ? Oh, no, they do not need 
all these, because they do not have to cook their 
food ; they catch and eat it as they fly, or as they sit 
on the bushes or trees. They sleep, too, on the 
branches, so their little home needs to be only a 
cradle for the eggs and later for the cunning little 
baby birds. But how hard the father and mother 
work to build their nests ! Can you tell me of some 
of them. (Draw from the children the material 
used.) 

How many have seen a robin's nest ? You know it 
is made of twigs and leaves all joined tightly to- 
gether and then plastered like our houses. But in- 
stead of being white like ours, their plaster is gray, 
made of what do you suppose? Mud, which the 

143 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

robin brings and makes hard and smooth by pressing 
her breast against it. 

The robins must have this mud. and one time one 
of them could not find any, for no rain had fallen 
and everything was very dry. There were no streams 
near and the birdie did not know what to do. But 
at last she thought of a way to get some mud and 
what do you think it was? "She went to a bathing- 
dish that some people kept filled with water for the 
birds, jumped into it and got her legs very wet. 
Then she flew to the road and hopped around in the 
dust and dirt. In a short time her legs had a good 
coating of mud, which she carefully picked off with 
her bill and took to the nest she was building. This 
she did many times until she had as much mud as she 
needed."'^ 

The robins line their nests inside with grass, which 
makes a soft bed for the birdlings, and they hang it 
high in a crotch or branch of a tree, tuck it into a 
grapevine, or put in some other safe place. 

Birds are glad of our help in building their nests, 
as they use pieces of string, bright worsted and other 
things we chance to drop. Once a friend of mine 
was cutting out some embroidery and left the little 
edge she did not want on the porch. Down flew a 
bird and carried this long strip away. He wound it 
in and out of his nest and back and forth from the 
branches to the nest, where it hung and waved all 
summer. 

*This incident is given in "The First Book of Birds," by Olive 
Thome Miller 

144 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

You know that the birdies fly south in the winter 
to a warm country where they can find insects and 
other food. Which of them come back to us first 
in the spring? Yes, the robins and bluebirds. I 
wonder if you know the httle song about the blue- 
bird : 

"I know the song that the bluebird is singing, 
Up in the apple tree where he is swinging. 
Brave little fellow ! the skies may look dreary, — 
Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery. 
'Daffodils ! daffodils ! say do you hear ? 
Summer is coming and springtime is here !' ""^ 

There's another sweet little song about our little 
robin friend, too, which I'll sing you : 

*'Baby, what does the robin say, 
Do you hear his evening song? 
He sits and sings his twilight lay, 
With a heart all merry and strong. 
He sings : 'Good-night, my baby dear, 
Sleep well, sleep soft, and do not fear ; 
For somehow I know as I sit and sing, 
That God takes care of everything.' "f 

As soon as the birdies come, they set quickly to 
work to build their nests, and 'tis such fun to watch 
them flying about with bits of straw, grass or twigs. 
Once I saw some wrens who built their tiny home 

*From "Song-s and Games for Little Ones," pag-e 29. 
tFrom "Song's for Little Children," volume 1, pag-e 38. 

145 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

under the roof of a porch. They made it of moss 
and hned it with soft feathers. 

Then Jennie, the Httle mother, laid her eggs and 
while she sat on them, Johnny brought her food and 
sang such a loud, sweet song to cheer her. When 
the baby birds came, both father and mother had to 
be so busy, for there were many hungry little mouths 
to be filled. Back and forth they flew, bringing in- 
sects and worms. Jennie did not make quite so 
many trips as Johnny, for she usually took the food 
he brought and fed it to the birdlings while he 
hurried off for more. I could hear the excited 
cries of the little ones, as the food was given to them, 
and it seemed as if they said, ''Goody, goody, 
goody !" and clapped their hands for joy. 

Later, when they were big enough to leave the 
nest, they used the porch as a nursery and the 
parents taught them to fly from chair to chair, with- 
out being at all afraid of the people who sat there. 

I wish I had time to tell you many other stories 
about the binds, but you must watch them for your- 
selves. 

Jesus always loved these little creatures and in 
His great sermon on the mountain, He said : "Behold 
the birds of the heaven that they sow not, neither 
do they reap, nor gather into barns ; and your heav- 
enly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more 
value than they?" That means, though the birds 
sow no seed like the farmer, nor cut down the grain 
and put it in barns, yet God loves them and shows 
them where to get their food. If He cares for these 
tiny creatures. He will care for us, also, and give us 

146 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

food, so we must trust Him and never feel worried 
nor troubled. 

At another time Jesus said that as God watched 
each little sparrow, noticing if any harm came to it, 
so he would keep all danger from us. In the picture 
you see the sparrows God loves having happy times 
in a big tree, where some kind people have put up a 
bird-house for them. 

Now I know you would like to learn a pretty song 
about a bird's nest. I think that the mother bird, of 
whom it tells, is a dear little thrush, such a gentle, 
loving mother, and I hope some day you may hear 
the sweet lullabies she sings at evening to her little 
ones. These thrush babies are so innocent and trust- 
ful that I don't wonder their mother loves them so 
dearly. 

Now shall we learn the song: 

''There's a wee little nest in the old oak tree. 
Safe and high, safe and high." 



147 



SUBJECT— RUTH'S EASTER LILY. 

Matthew 6 : 28-34. 
Picture— LILIES. 

Song— "EASTER SONG." 

(From ^^Songsfor Little Children," •volume i , page ij^ also in ^'•Childhood 
Songs," page 84.) 



STORY. 



What did we talk about last Sunday, children? 
Yes, the birds. You remember that Jesus loved 
them and spoke about them. He said that though 
they could not sow seed like the farmer, nor gather 
the grain into barns for their winter food, yet God 
cared for them and would not let them suffer. If 
He was so thoughtful of the birds, He would love 
and care for us, also, as we are much dearer to Him 
than are they. 

Perhaps He had been watching the birds, as He 
spoke, and then I think he looked down and there at 
his feet were growing some lovely lilies. 

*'See how these lilies grow," He said, they do not 
have to work, and yet they are dressed more beauti- 
fully than even a great king. If God gives them 
clothes, don't you think he will take care of you, also, 
whom He so loves ? Don't be worried nor troubled : 
your heavenly Father knows that you need food and 
clothing and He will give them to you. Just love 
Him and try to please Him in all you do." 

148 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



What day is this, children? Yes, Easter. And 
what flowers trim our church and our kindergarten 
room to-day? Yes, the HHes of which Jesus spoke. 
Would you like to hear a story about one of them ? 




Once upon a time in a big city there lived a little 
girl, whose name was Ruth. Her papa had gone to 
be with the dear heavenly Father and her mamma 
was so poor that she had to work hard all day to 
get food and clothes for herself and her little girl. 

149 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Little Ruth was often alone and, children, she 
couldn't run about and play as other little girls do. 
When she was a baby she had had a fall that hurt 
her back, so she could never walk. She had to sit 
in a chair all day and she used to get pretty tired and 
lonely, as she had no one with whom to play. 

Her mamma would put books and pictures and 
little toys where she could reach them, and at noon 
a kind neighbor would come in and prepare her 
lunch, if mamma had to be away all day. She sat 
at the window, as she loved to watch the people 
passing by. The children would wave their hands 
and smile at her and the mothers would feel so sorry 
when they saw her little pale face that they would 
try to do something for her. 

One of these kind mothers went to sew for a lady 
who was very rich and lived in a beautiful home, 
a little way out of the city. As she was sewing 
there one day the lady's little girl, Antoinette, ran 
into the room and said : "Oh, Mrs. Burns, I'm tired 
of playing, won't you tell me a story ?" 

"Would you like to hear of a little girl I know, 
who is about your age?" asked Mrs. Burns. 

"Yes indeed," said Antoinette, as she sat down 
in a little chair. 

Then while Mrs. Burns sewed, she told all about 
poor little Ruth who had to sit still all the time and 
was often quite alone the whole long day. Antoin- 
ette was very sorry for the poor little girl and she 
ran and told her mother about her. 

"Can't I do something for her. Mamma?" she 
asked. 

150 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



"I will see, dear," replied her mother ; "I'd like you 
to help her if you can." 

The next afternoon Antoinette's mother drove to 
Ruth's home and found her playing alone in her 
little chair by the window, as Mrs. Burns had said. 
She stayed with her quite awhile and a few days 
afterward, she took Antoinette to see her. Oh, how 
glad Ruth was to have such kind visitors ! 

Antoinette brought her some new books, a lovely 
dolly and some flowers. She gave her a little paper 
bundle, also, which she told her to open. Ruth untied 
the string, unwrapped the paper, and then she was 
a little disappointed, for there was only a queer 
little brown thing inside, that was hard and round 
and not one bit pretty. 

She didn't know what to do with it, but Antoinette 
said, " 'Tis a lily bulb, Ruth, and I thought you 
would like to watch it grow." 

She and her mamma helped Ruth plant it in a pot 
they had brought and then they covered it over with 
soft, black earth. Then they put some straw on top 
to keep it dark. 

"After two weeks," said mamma, "you can take 
away the straw and then I think you will find some- 
thing in the pot." 

It was hard for Ruth to wait all this time, but 
at last the two weeks passed and when she took 
away the straw, she found a little green shoot. 

"That is your lily beginning to grow," said An- 
toinette's mamma, who was again visiting her. "It 
is now November and when Easter comes, away in 
the spring, there will be lovely white blossoms on 

i=;i 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

your plant. You must water it every other day and 
give it plenty of sunshine to help it grov^." 

Ruth could get the water and care for it herself, 
as she could now go about her room. She couldn't 
walk, but Antoinette and her mamma had sent her 
such a comfortable chair, in which she could wheel 
all around. It was so nice not to have to stay just in 
one place. 

She had many playthings, too, which they had 
brought her, but best of all she loved her little plant. 
Day by day the stalk grew taller and around it came 
long, slender, dark green leaves. Ruth never tired 
of watching it and when spring came, she saw one 
day something besides the leaves upon it. What do 
you think it was? Blossoms? Not yet, — just buds. 
But these grew larger and larger and whiter and 
whiter until at last one of them opened into an ex- 
quisite blossom. The sunshine had turned its heart 
to gold and the white petals glistened and shone, 
while such a delicious fragrance filled the room. 

Antoinette had told Ruth a great deal about the 
beautiful Easter Sunday, w^hich was soon coming, 
when the church would be trimmed with lilies and 
such lovely songs would be sung. When the blos- 
soms opened, Ruth thought, *'Oh, I'd like my lily 
to go to church on Easter !" 

The next time Antoinette and her mother came, 
Ruth showed them her beautiful lily, which now 
had five snowy blossoms and two buds. 

''Won't you take it to Sunday School to-morrow, 
Antoinette," she asked, ''so all the children can see 
it?" 

152 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

*'Yes, indeed/' said Antoinette, "mamma and I 
will drive here on our way to church and carry it 
with us." 

The next day when the little children came to 
the Sunday School Kindergarten, their teacher asked 
Antoinette's mamma to tell them about the little sick 
girl who had watched the lily so many weeks and 
when it blossomed, had wished to send it for them 
to enjoy. The children looked with eager interest 
at the beautiful, fragrant blossoms, which were now 
all open, and as they sang 

*'The pure, white lily raised its cup, 
At happy Easter time," 

they were all glad that dear little Ruth had shared 
her treasure with them. 



153 



SUBJECT— -JUDGE NOT." 

Matthew 7 .•/. 
Picture— '^ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH" — Faed 

Song— "HYMN FOR A LITTLE CHILD." 

i^From ^^ Songs for Little C/ii/dren,^^ volume /, page 6.) 



STORY. 

For many Sundays, children, we have been talk- 
ing of the great sermon that Jesus preached to the 
people on the mountain. To-day I want you to 
learn seven words that He said to them. Can you 
say them after me? ''Judge not, that we be not 
judged." I think you do not know what judge 
means, so I'll tell you a story which perhaps will 
help you to understand these words of Jesus. 

There was once a little boy named Max who lived 
in a small house in a big city. He had many broth- 
ers and sisters and they all had happy times playing 
together. Max was in most ways a very dear little 
fellow, but he had one fault and see if you can 
guess what it was, when I tell you a little more 
about him. 

He went to Kindergarten one morning and as 
the children were playing, before the piano told 
them to go to the circle, one of them threw a ball 
to Max. He didn't catch it and it hit the glass of 
the window. Max at once ran to his teacher and 

154 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

said, ''Miss White, Tommy threw a ball and it hit 
the window." 

Tommy said, ''Well, Max didn't catch it or it 
wouldn't have gone so far." 




A little later, after the quiet music, the children 
closed their eyes to pray to God. As soon as the lit- 
tle prayer was over. Max said, "Oh, Miss White, 
Susie never shut her eyes." 

155 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Miss White replied, "How do you know, Max?" 

Max answered, "I looked at her and her eyes 
were wide open." 

"How could you see her if your eyes were shut?" 
asked IMiss White. Max hung his head for he just 
remembered that his eyes, also, had been open. 

At the table the children had their blocks to play 
with. Max started to build a lighthouse. He made 
it higher and higher when, suddenly — over it went. 

"Miss Brown, INIiss Brown," said Alax, to the 
teacher who sat at his table, "Jim knocked my light- 
house down." 

"I don't think he meant to do it, dear," said Miss 
Brown, for she knew what a good little boy Jim was. 

Later when the children were playing their games, 
Miss White asked Max to be the father-bird. The 
little sfirl who was the mother-bird had waited verv 
patiently until the little birds began to peep and 
then she and Max flew about getting worms for 
them. The mother stayed with the little ones a 
moment or two and Max cried out, "Oh, Miss 
White, Annie doesn't work a bit, she makes me get 
all the worms." 

Miss White looked around the circle and said: 
"Children, did you ever hear a bird talk in that 
way? W^hy, Ithoughtthey only said, Teep, peep.' " 

Max looked a little ashamed and flew away to find 
some more worms. 

When the children were getting their wraps to go 
home^ Max came running to Miss White and said: 
"Charley is staying in the dressing-room. He isn't 
hurrying at all to get his coat." 

156 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Miss White said, "Max, just try to be good your- 
self and don't watch what others are doing." 

As soon as he reached home, Max ran to his 
mother and said: "Oh, Mamma, John hitched 
coming home and I know you told him not to do it.'"' 

Mamma replied: "Tell me what my little boy 
Max did; John can tell me about himself." 

That night, before Max went to bed, he went in 
to have a little talk with grandma, whom he loved 
very much. She asked, "Has my little grandson had 
a happy day?" 

"No, Grandma, it was horrid," Max replied, "the 
childreii didn't choose me for the games at Kinder- 
garten and I don't think they like me at all." 

"Well, Max dear," said Grandma, "shall I tell you 
what I think is the trouble? Did you tell your 
teacher of naughty things the children were doing?'' 

Max thought a moment, as you see him doing in 
the picture, and then he said, "Yes, Grandma, I 
did." 

Grandma asked : "Would you like them to tell 
about you, dear ? I want you to learn a little verse, 
some words of Jesus." 

Then, children, she gave Max the verse we have 
to-day, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." 

"That means," said Grandma, "do not watch to 
see what wrong things others are doing, or think 
how naughty they are, for, if you do, they will 
notice your faults and speak of them." 

Max kissed Grandma good-night and said, "I will 
try to-morrow. Grandma dear, just to be good mv- 
self." 

157 



SUBJECT— THE GOLDEN RULE. 

Matthew 7 : 1 2. [R, V.) 
Picture— CHILD'S HEAD— Vogel. 



STORY. 



Children, how many of you have seen a carpenter's 
rule ? Can you tell me what he does with it ? Yes, 
he measures things. He can tell just how long or 
how wide to make a board with his rule, or just how 
high a door or window should be. This rule helps 
him to make everything exactly right. 

In the beautiful sermon which Jesus preached to 
the people on the mountain. He gave them a rule, 
not one made of wood like the carpenter's, to help 
them make things right, but a rule of words that 
would help them live as God wished them to do. We 
call it the "Golden Rule," and I wonder if you can 
learn it. "Whatsoever ye would that men should 
do unto you, even so do ye also unto them." That 
means if you would like other people to be kind and 
loving to you, you must be loving and kind to them. 

Would you like me to tell you of a little boy who 
learned what this verse meant? His name was 
Laurence and he had no brothers or sisters. Though 
his dear mother and father did everything they could 
for him, he was often lonely as no children lived 
near him and he used to wish for a little playmate. 

158 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



When he was five years old, his father went to hve 
near some great mountains which Laurence loved to 
watch. Some da3^s the clouds would lie over them 
so he could not see their tops, but on clear days he 




could see the snow lying on the summits. They 
seemed like great friends looking down upon him 
and saying : "Never be afraid, little Laurence, we 
are so strong that we will protect you and see that 
no harm comes to you." . . 

159 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The mountains were all named and as Laurence 
ran out of doors, he would look up and call, "Good 
morning" to them, one by one, "Good morning, old 
Washington," or, "Good morning, Lafayette." 
There were many, many others, but these two he 
loved best of all. 

Sometimes his father had to climb some of the 
smaller mountains and he took Laurence with him. 
The little fellow loved to go. At first he could only 
see the trees about him, but as they climbed higher, 
he could see more and more of the country, until at 
last such a wonderful view stretched out before him. 
The great mountains stood up tall and grand all 
about him, some of them a long way off. The little 
town near which he lived was far below and the 
people looked no larger than dolls, while the houses 
seemed as small as doll houses. The rivers were 
like tiny ribbons winding through the land and the 
little lakes, here and there, looked like mirrors of 
glass. 

Laurence made friends with the birds and squir- 
rels and many of the little forest people. They 
learned to know he would never hurt them, so, when 
he whistled, the birds would sing their sweetest 
songs and the squirrels would frisk about, eating 
nuts from his hand without any fear. Still he 
wished for a little boy to play with, as his home was 
far away in the woods and no one lived near. 

One morning he ran out to the pretty lake close 
by his home and he was so happy that he shouted as 
he ran. Suddenly it seemed to him as if he heard 
some one shouting back. He listened, but there was 

1 60 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

no sound. Then he called "Halloo !" and sure 
enough some one did answer, "Halloo," in a faint 
voice as if he were far away. Laurence was so 
pleased for he thought, "There is another little boy 
here in the woods." 

He was standing right near the lake and on the 
other side rose a high mountain. He looked all 
about but could see no one,, so he called again, "Who 
are you?" 

But instead of answering, the voice said, "Who 
are you ?" 

Laurence thought it strange the other boy didn't 
answer his question first, but he replied, "I'm Lau- 
rence Strong. What's your name ?" and the voice 
called, "What's your name?" 

Then Laurence thought the boy was just mocking 
him and he cried out, "You're a mean boy." 

Back came the answer, "You're a mean boy." 

The tears of anger came to Laurence's eyes and he 
shouted, "I just hate you." 

"I just hate you," answered the voice. 

Laurence ran home to his mother and sobbed out : 
"Oh, Mamma, I heard some one calling over by the 
lake and I hoped it was a little boy whom I could 
play with, but instead it was a horrid, rude boy who 
called me names." 

Mamma smiled, for she guessed what he had 
heard, and said : "Tell me all about it, Laurence 
dear." 

Then Laurence told how the little boy mocked 
him, repeating his words. 

i6i 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Mamma said: *'Go back again, little son, and 
talk lovingly and see what your little friend will 
say." 

So Laurence went again and called out, ''Halloo 
there !" 

"Halloo there !" said the voice. 

"I love you," cried Laurence. 

"I love you," said the voice. 

^'You're a good boy," Laurence called. 

"You're a good boy," said the voice. 

Back to the house ran Laurence and cried out, 
"Oh, Mamma, he is a fine little fellow after all ! He 
said he loved me and that I was a good boy." 

Mamma replied: "I'm glad, dear, that this time 
he was so nice to you and I think you will always 
find that if you are kind and loving, others will be 
so to vou." 



162 



SUBJECT— THE TWO BUILDERS. 

Matthew 7 .-24-2^. 
Picture— THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT— 

HOFMANN. 

Song— "WORK, FOR THE NIGHT IS COMING." 

i^From ^'■Childhood Songsy" page lOJ.) 



STORY. 



Would you like to hear to-day, children, about the 
very last part of the great sermon which Jesus 
preached on the mountain ? He finished it by telling 
a story. 'Tis the only story in the sermon, but I 
think perhaps Jesus saw that the people, who had 
been sitting still listening to His words for so long 
a time, were a little tired and He knew a story would 
interest them just as it does you. 

I think He looked down from the mountain to 
the lake that lay below. The water was such a deep, 
deep blue, except where the sunbeams fell upon it, 
turning it into shimmering silver. Jesus thought 
of the people who spent their lives at work upon 
the lake. What do we call them? Yes, fishermen, 
and He told this story about them : 

There were once two fishermen who each decided 
to build a house. One wanted to make his work 
easy and he thought: 'Tt will be less trouble to 
build on the sand than on a rock. Then, if 'tis near 

163 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

the shore, I can get to it quickly when I come home 
with my fish." 

But the other said : "I think I will go up higher 
to build my house, as I'm afraid it wouldn't be quite 




safe to put it here on the sand. I know it will be 
harder to build it on the rock and then I must climb 
up there, but I shall be sure it will stand firmly when 
I have it built." 

164 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The two men began their work and the one who 
had chosen to build upon the sand finished his house 
some time before the other. He did not have to 
carry the wood and other things to build with so 
far and it was easier to dig out the sand for the 
cellar than to blast the rock. 

But at last the other man finished his work. The 
rock made a strong foundation and the house built 
there was so firm that nothing could hurt it. When 
both houses were finished, the two men were so glad 
to be able to live in them. 

All that summer the man whose house was built 
on the sand said to himself: "I'm glad I don't have 
to climb way up on that rock with my fish when I 
come home tired. 'Tis so much easier and nicer to 
have my house right here on the shore." 

But when the bright, warm summer was over, the 
days began to grow colder and storms often came. 
One day, as the two men were out fishing, one said : 
"The sky looks very black, I believe we shall have a 
great storm." 

The other replied, "Yes, I think we'd better be get- 
ting home." 

When they reached the shore, they fastened their 
boats securely and went to their different homes. 

Soon the rain began to fall, gently at first and then 
faster and faster, and the wind blew louder and 
louder. The man whose house was built on the sand 
could not sleep, because the wind shook his home so. 
The windows rattled and the whole house seemed 
to rock. The great waves came nearer and nearer, 
rolling in from the lake. The rain was now coming 

165 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

>down ill sheets and he feared his poor house 
wouldn't stand much longer, as the wind was blow- 
ing furiously. 

At last he started out to go to his friend's house. 
It was all he could do to climb up to it in such a 
gale and he was quite wet through when he reached 
the door. He shouted to his friend, who quickly let 
him in and took him to a fire where he could get 
warm and dry. This house even the high wind 
couldn't shake, because it stood so firmly upon its 
rock foundation. 

In the morning the two men went down to the 
shore and there was just a heap of ruins where the 
other house had been, as the wind had blown it all 
down. 

Which man was the wise one, children ? Yes, the 
one who built his house on the rock. 

Jesus said, when He finished His story, that if the 
people remembered to do all He had told them in 
His sermon ; if they thought of others first, were 
merciful and unselfish, did not judge others and kept 
the "Golden Rule," they would be like the wise man 
who built his house upon a rock. But if they forgot 
what He had said and were proud, cruel and selfish, 
they would be like the foolish man who built his 
house on the sand. 

I want you to look at the picture and see how 
eagerly the people are listening to Jesus' words. I 
think they will try to be like the wise man, don't 
you ? 



i66 



SUBJECT— THE SABBATH. 

Matthew 12 :i-8 ; Mark 2 :2'/. 

Picture— JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES GOING 
THROUGH CORNFIELD— DoRE. 

Song— "HAPPY HEARTS." 

(From '■^Song and Study j or God' s Little Ones, ' page 14.) 



STORY. 



When Jesus was on earth, children, He found that 
the people were doing very strange and wrong things 
on Sunday. Even those who thought they were 
pleasing God were forgetting to be kind on this day. 
God had told them not to work on Sunday, and so, 
if they saw a poor man who was hungry, ill or in 
any kind of trouble, they would not help him because 
they said this would be working. 

Jesus showed them the right way to keep Sunday. 
He always went to church, which He called His 
Father's house, and I am sure He loved to go. He 

used to talk or preach to the people, as Dr. • 

(mention pastor's name) does to us, and if any one 
came in who was ill, Jesus would cure him. Some- 
times friends would bring poor, sick people who 
couldn't come alone and He would always heal them. 
I think He wants us to be busy on Sunday, as He 
was, doing kind, loving things that will make people 
happy. 

167 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

One Sunday Jesus and His disciples were walking 
through the wheat fields on their way home from 
church. The disciples were hungry as they had had 
no breakfast that morning, so they began to pick 




the kernels of wheat and eat them. Some men came 
up and said it wasn't right to pick the wheat on Sun- 
day, but Jesus said, if people were hungry, it was 
always right to get something to eat. 

i68 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Would you like me to tell you of some little friends 
of mine who used to love to have Sunday come as 
they had such happy times on that day? As soon 
as they were old enough they used to go to church 
with papa and mamma, if they had been good all 
through the week. But if they had been cross or 
naughty, they had to stay at home. They loved to 
go, so they would try hard to remember to be good. 

After church and Sunday School, papa would 
stay with them while dear mamma rested and oh, 
what a happy time this was ! Papa was busy all 
through the week and came home just before their 
bedtime at night, so they didn't see much of him, and 
it was so nice to have him all to themselves when 
Sunday came. They would often go with him for 
a walk, if the day was pleasant, and if they knew of 
any sick people, they would carry a book, some 
flowers, or a glass of jelly to them. 

Sometimes papa would take them to see the little 
children in the hospital and there he would tell them 
all such beautiful Bible stories. If it was stormy, 
papa would play with them at home. The toys they 
had all through the week were put away Saturday 
night, but they had other pretty playthings which 
were kept just for Sunday. The older brother and 
sister had Bible games which helped them to remem- 
ber the beautiful Bible stories. The younger chil- 
dren had Noah's arks and it was such fun to make 
all the animals go into the ark, two by two, so they 
should not get wet when the rain began to fall. 
They had blocks, also, with which they could build 
churches and Sunday School rooms and then they 

169 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



played that the dolHes went to Sunday School and 
said verses and sang the pretty songs. (Of course 
the dollies were not put away, for they were the 
children's children.) 

When mamma had rested, she read or told them 
stories, and then they all sang the sweet songs they 
learned in Sunday School, while mamma played. As 
the maids went out on Sunday, the children helped 
mamma get the tea and this they always liked to do 

In the summer time, also, Simday was the happi- 
est day of all the week, for papa and mamma would 
plan such pleasant surprises. If they were near the 
sea, they would take long walks by the water, watch 
the great waves come in and pick up pretty stones 
and shells. 

One day when they were in the country, papa took 
the children for a walk after dinner, but mamma 
asked the oldest boy, Will, to come back to the cot- 
tage at five o'clock. When he returned, she had the 
supper all packed in baskets and they carried it to 
the woods where they all had such a pleasant picnic 
tea. 

That night, when bedtime came and mamma 
tucked the children in bed, they thanked the dear 
Father in heaven for giving them the beautiful Sun- 
day and they wished they need not wait a whole 
week for it to come again. 



170 



SUBJECT— THE WIDOW'S SON. 

Luke y :ii-i6. 
Picture— RAISING THE WIDOW'S SON— Hofmann. 



STORY. 



I want to tell you, children, of one of the most 
wonderful things that Jesus ever did. You know, 
some weeks ago, I told you that He was called the 
Great Physician, or Doctor, because He healed all 
the sick people who were brought to Him. To-day 
you will see that He could do greater things than 
any other doctor has ever done. But I shall have to 
begin at the beginning, so you may understand my 
story. 

Not very far from Nazareth, which was Jesus' 
home for so many years, and from Cana, where He 
went to the wedding and turned the water into wine, 
was a little town called Nain. This name means 
''pleasant," or "beautiful," and the little town was 
indeed a very pretty place. 'Twas high up on a hill 
and from it one could look across a plain to a moun- 
tain covered with beautiful trees, and to another, 
still higher, on which the snow always rested. As 
in Nazareth, there w^ere many lovely flowers to be 
seen and the air was filled with the song of birds. 

Here, in a large and pleasant home, lived a mother 
and her only son. The father was dead, so all the 
mother's love was given to her boy. He was a dear 

171 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

little fellow, always loving and good, and he and his 
mother had happy days together. 

It was such a joy to her to make his little clothes, 
tell him stories and teach him to read, or watch him 




at his play. As he grew older, his mother could 
hardly let him go to school, as she wanted him near 
her every moment. 

Year by year went by and the dear mother grew 
old. Now it was the son who cared for her. He 

172 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

remembered all the many loving things she had done 
for him, all his life, and it was his joy to plan to 
make her happy. Again and again she would say : 
"Oh, m}' boy, how good God is to give you to me ! 
What should I do without you ?" 

But one day, children, her son came home and 
said: "Mother, my head aches and I don't feel very 
well; I think I will lie down and rest awhile." 

His mother was much alarmed, for her boy was 
usually so well and strong and he had never been ill 
before. When evening came, as he was no better, 
she sent for the doctor. All night she gave him 
medicine and took such tender care of him, but he 
grew worse, hour by hour. He was so patient and 
even when the pain was hard to bear, he tried not 
to let his mother know, as he knew she, too, would 
suffer. Several doctors came and everything was 
tried that could ease the pain, but nothing made 
the sick boy better. The poor mother was overcome 
with grief; she felt she could not lose her only son, 
whom she loved so tenderly and who was all she had. 

But at last he whispered, "Mother dear, you have 
been so good to me, I'm sorry to leave you. Good- 
bye," and as she held him close in her arms, she 
saw the light fade out of his eyes and knew that he 
was dead. 

Children, I cannot tell you of her grief — only 
mothers know. She could not eat or sleep ; she could 
only weep for her lost son and wish that God would 
take her, also. 

Kind friends came in and cared for her. They 
dressed the boy in his best clothes, cut off his beauti- 

173 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

ful hair, which men wore long in those days, folded 
his arms across his breast and put him on a bier, or 
little bed. Then they carried him away to a "Place 
of Rest." The poor, weeping mother and some kind 
women friends walked in front of the bier, while be- 
hind came the musicians, who sang and played slow, 
sad music. After these, followed many, many peo- 
ple, for all those wdio lived in the little town knew 
and loved this mother and her son and wished to 
show how sorry they felt for her. 

But now I must leave the sad mother and her 
friends and tell you what Jesus was doing on this 
same day. Early in the morning He had left the 
mountain, where He had been preaching to the mul- 
titude, and had started on a long journey. He took 
first a sail on the lake and then walked still farther 
south. A great many people were with Him, those 
whom He had healed and those who had been helped 
by His words and wanted to hear all He said. 

A little after noon, He and His followers were 
climbing the hill that led to Nain, when they met the 
sad procession taking the widow's son to the "Place 
of Rest." Jesus saw the weeping mother and you 
know how tender His sympathy was and how He 
always wished to help those who were in trouble. He 
came close to her and said, "Do not weep." But, 
children, I think it made her even more sad when 
she saw Him, because she must have thought : "Oh, 
if only He had come a little sooner before my boy 
died, He could have made him well." 

Jesus put out His hand and touched the bier and 
those who were carrying it stood still. Then, bend- 

174 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

ing over the boy until His warm breath touched the 
still, cold face, Jesus said: "Yoinig man, I say unto 
thee, Arise." 

And, children, the boy's eyes opened, slowly he 
sat up and began to speak. I think the very first 
word he said must have been, "Mother," as he heard 
her cry of joy. Jesus put him in her arms and she 
clasped him close, close to her heart. 

The people who saw this wonderful thing happen 
were filled with astonishment and fear, and fell on 
their knees and praised and worshipped Jesus. Then 
the}^ all went back into the town ; the mother lean- 
ing once more on her dear son's arm, so happy she 
could not speak. Instead of the weeping and sad 
music that had been heard so short a time before, 
there were shouts of joy and glad singing, as the 
multitude returned to their homes. 

Do you not think, children, that the dear mother 
and her son loved Jesus all their lives and knew that 
He was indeed their best Friend ? 



175 



SUBJECT— THE SOWER. 

Matthew I J : J -8 ; i8-2j. 
Picture— PARABLE OF THE SOWER— H. L. Robert. 

Song— "SUNBEAM SONG,"— Mrs. Blodgett, first and fourth 

verses. 

i^From i>ong Leaflets. — Blackmer Music Company, Publishers.) 



STORY. 



Would you like to hear to-day, children, one of the 
beautiful stories which Jesus told? 

Once, in the springtime, as He looked over the 
fields and saw the farmers scattering the seed. He 
told this story. I want to read 3'ou from the Bible 
the very words He used. 

"Behold a sower" (or farmer, as we should call 
him) "went forth to sow; and as he sowed, some 
seeds fell by the way side" (that means on the path 
where the ground was so hard that the seeds couldn't 
sink into it), "and the birds came and devoured" 
(or ate) "them;. some fell upon stony places, where 
they had not much earth; and forthwith" (or soon) 
"they sprang up, because they had no deepness of 
earth" (that is, it didn't take long for them to grow 
in so little earth), "and when the sun was risen, they 
were scorched ; and because they had no root, they 
withered away. And some fell among thorns ; and 
the thorns sprung up, and choked them" (these 
thorns wxre weeds, or prickly bushes, that grew so 

T76 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

fast they took so much of the ground that the poor 
wheat had very httle. They kept the hght from 
the wheat, also, so that it soon died), "but others 
fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit ; some 




an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." 
(That means that the farmer, when he cut down the 
wheat at the harvest time, found it had grown so 
rapidly in the good ground, that he could get many 
bushels from it.) 

Now, children, when Jesus told a story, He wished 
not only to interest people, but to help them to be 
loving and useful. After He had finished this story 

177 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

of the sower, He explained it to the people. I think 
you would understand the meaning better if I told 
another story. Shall I do so? 

Once a lady who loved children invited a number 
of her little friends to a party at her home. They 
first played some games and then, when they were a 
little tired, they came close around her while she 
told them a story. 'Twas about a little boy, whom 
people called Sunbeam, because he was always doing 
helpful, loving things. At home, among his play- 
mates and even with strangers, he was just like a 
sunbeam, driving all darkness away and making 
every one feel bright and happy. The children were 
very much interested in the story and all thought 
they would be like this dear little boy. 

One little fellow, named Ben, ran home from the 
party and told his mother about Sunbeam, and ex- 
claimed, "Oh, Mamma, I'm going to be just as sweet 
and good as he was !" 

His mamma was pleased and said he would thus 
make her very happy. 

Ben ran out to play, but soon his mother called, 
''Ben, Ben, 'tis time to go to bed." 

"Oh, Mamma, not yet," he cried, " 'tis so early." 

''Yes, dear," replied his mother, "the clock says 
seven, time my dear little son was going to bed." 

But, children, what do you think happened ! Ben 
forgot all about Sunbeam and pouted and fretted 
and was very cross and naughty. 

Don't 3^ou think his seed, the thought he had of 
being loving and good, was all eaten up by the bird 
called, "I forget," so there was none left to grow? 

178 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

There was a little girl at the party and when she 
reached home, she, too, told her mother the beauti- 
ful story and her plan to be like Sunbeam. Her 
mother said, ''Well, Bessie, I should be very happy 
to have a little sunbeam in my home." 

Bessie remembered her plan longer than Ben. 
She went to bed pleasantly, when the hour came, 
and was so good the next morning that she made 
every one happy. In the afternoon her mamma asked 
her to do some sewing. She sat down and worked 
very patiently, putting in neat little stitches. But 
after awhile, she grew very tired and as she was 
less careful, she pricked her finger. When she saw 
the tiny drop of blood, she began to cry and she 
pulled her thread so hard that it broke. Her mamma 
came into the room and Bessie said, in such a cross 
voice : "Oh, Mamma, I just hate to sew and I'm 
not going to try to be good any more, if I have 
horrid work like this to do." 

I wonder if this was the little seed which fell 
among the stones and though it began to grow, 
there wasn't earth enough for it to live very long. 

There was also a little boy, named Fred, who 
wanted to be like Sunbeam. He tried to be good 
even longer than Ben or Bessie, and for some time 
was very helpful and loving. One day, however, 
his mother asked him to stay with the baby, while 
she went on an errand. Fred played with his little 
sister until she laughed and crowed with delight and 
after awhile he rocked her to sleep and put her in 
her crib. Then, as he was staying near her, some 
boys came along and called to him to come out and 

179 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

play with them. Fred said he couldn't go, because 
he must watch the bab}'. But they laughed at him 
and called him "nurse," "baby-tender" and ''goody- 
goody," until at last, I'm sorry to say, Fred left the 
baby all alone and went with them. 

Don't you think his seed was choked by the 
thorns, the naughty boys who persuaded him to do 
wrong ? 

A little brother and sister were also at the party 
and their names were Donald and Daisy. As their 
mother was putting them to bed, they told her the 
lovely story and said, "Would you like two sun- 
beams in the house. Mother dear ?" 

She told them how happy they would make her if 
they were like the loving little boy in the story. 

And, children, Donald and Daisy really did re- 
member to be like him. Their papa didn't have 
much money, so their mamma had a great deal of 
work to do and the children found many ways to 
help her. Donald brought in the wood for the fire 
and the water from the pump, for they didn't have 
water in the house, as w^e do. Then he and Daisy 
set the table, washed and wiped the dishes and 
brushed up the floor. 

At school they learned their lessons so well that 
they made their teacher happy and they were so 
kind and gentle that the children all loved to play 
with them. When papa came home at night, tired 
from his work, they ran to get his slippers and drew 
an easy chair near the fire where he could rest 
awhile. 

i8o 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



In every way they were so bright and helpfnl that 
people began to call them the sunbeams, because they 
scattered all clouds and darkness like the little boy 
in the story. 

I think this was the seed that fell into good 
ground and grew so well there was a rich harvest, 
don't you? 



i8i 



SUBJECT— DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT. 

Lttke 6 .vj-^f; Joh7i ij :-/., j. 
Picture— GRAPES. 

Song— "MY HEART IS GOD'S LITTLE GARDEN," 

i^From '■'•So?7gs for Little Children,'" -volume 3, page 2.) 



STORY. 



Last Sunday, children, we talked of the farmer 
who sowed his seed. You remember that some of 
it was eaten by birds, some didn't grow because it 
hadn't earth enough and some was choked by 
thorns, but that which fell into good ground grew 
and bore many bushels of wheat. 

To-day would you like to hear of another kind 
of harvest ? In the late summer and fall the farmers 
cut down the wheat, oats, corn and other grain. Can 
you tell me what else they bring into their barns or 
send to market? Yes, all the vegetables with their 
pretty colors ; the orange pumpkins and yellow 
squashes, the brown potatoes, the red beets, the 
purple and green cabbages and many, many others. 
What else can you think of that the farmers gather? 
Why, yes, all the fruit; the red, green and yellow 
apples, the peaches with their velvety skin tinted a 
delicate pink where the sun has shone upon them, 
the yellow pears and the beautiful clusters of purple 
and white grapes. 

182 



KINDERGAR TEN STORIES 

Jesus loved the trees, as He loved everything God 
had made, and He used often to watch the fruit that 
hunq- upon tlieni. Different fruits qtcw in the coun- 




Copyrtght 1902 by Doubleday, Paj,'-e A Co. Usod by permission. 



try where He lived from those we have here ; yellow- 
green figs, golden apricots, with their pale silver 
leaves, and red pomegranates. He often talked 
about the fruit which He saw and I'm going to tell 

183 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



yon two short stories to help you understand what 
He said. 

The first stor}^ is about two httle apple trees which 
stood side by side in a great orchard. They had 
just been planted and one of them tried hard to 
grow. The little roots crept into the ground and 
travelled about, sucking up food from the earth. 
Then they sent this food up through the trunk of 
the tree, out into the branches, then into the little 
twigs and at last into every little leaf. The rain 
helped, too, and the bright warm sunshine. Year 
by year the tree grew larger until at last one spring- 
time something started to grow beside leaves. What 
do you think it was? Yes, lovely white blossoms 
touched with pink, which had such a beautiful fra- 
grance. When summer came these blossoms 
changed to tiny apples. At first they were 
hard and" green, but the food that the roots 
sent up helped them to grow and the sun fell upon 
them so that slowly they grew large and rosy. Had 
you seen them, you would have longed to have had 
one to eat. 

Meanwhile the other tree said, "I don't believe I'll 
work so hard." So the little roots didn't travel 
around for food and only sent a little up through 
the trunk to the branches and leaves. Of course the 
branches couldn't crrow larp'e, nor did the leaves 
become a beautiful green. At last a few apples 
started to grow but they didn't get food enough and 
so stayed small and hard. 

H you wanted an apple, from which tree would 
you pick it? Yes, from the first one, which had 

184 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

the beautiful, rosy fruit. And if you saw one of 
these large, nice apples, you would say it grew on 
a good tree, wouldn't you? While if you saw one 
of the hard, green ones, you would be sure it couldn't 
have come from a fine, healthy tree. 

Jesus said, children, that just as every one knew 
good fruit had grown on good trees, so they could 
tell that kind, loving deeds had been done by good 
people. 

The other story is about a beautiful grapevine that 
had many, many branches. They clung tightly to the 
vine and the food came up from the roots, just as it 
did to the apple tree. But one little branch said : 
'T don't need the vine, as I can bear grapes all by 
myself," so it let go and fell down to the ground. 
Do you think its leaves stayed green and that grapes 
grew upon it? No, it withered and died, while the 
other branches which clung to the vine and ate the 
food that the roots sent up to them, after awhile bore 
bunches of tiny green grapes. Little by little, these 
grapes grew larger until at last the vine was covered 
with beautiful purple clusters such as you see in our 
picture. 

Jesus said that people could be like branches of 
the vine and have beautiful fruit. What do you 
think this fruit would be? Not grapes, but loving 
words and kind acts. If we want to have this fruit, 
we must keep just as close to Him, He said, as the 
branches did to the vine. You know Jesus never 
pleased Himself, but always tried to make others 
happy. We, too, must try to be gentle, helpful and 
loving, as He was, if w^e would have beautiful fruit. 

18:; 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Would you like to learn a little song about these 
words of Jesus? 

"My heart is God's little garden, 

And the fruit I shall bear each day, 
Are the things He shall see me doing. 
And the words He shall hear me say." 



i86 



SUBJECT— STILLING THE TEMPEST. 

Mark / :35--l-i. 
Picture— ''PEACE, BE STILL"— DoRii. 

Song— "JESUS BY THE SEA." 

{^From '■'■Songs for Little Folks,'' — Mrs. Crafts and Miss Merrill^ 

page ^8. ) 



STORY. 



Children, how many of you have been in a boat? 
Ahiiost every one, I see. Do you Hke to play by the 
water? Yes, I'm sure all children do. Jesus loved 
the water very much and I think He used often to 
sit by the lake which was near His home, listening 
to the soft splashing of the waves and watching the 
changing colors. 

Sometimes He taught the people on the lake shore 
and as they crowded and pressed about Him, He 
would take a boat and pushing out a little way. He 
would sit or stand where He could look into all 
their faces as He talked. 

He had spent one afternoon thus in a boat speak- 
ing to the people who had listened so eagerly to His 
stories. It had been a busy day for Jesus, as He had 
healed many who were ill, taught His disciples and 
talked long to the multitude who crowded about 
Him. When night came. He was very weary and 
felt He must have rest, so He asked His disciples 
to take Him across the lake. 

187 



/ 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



'Twas a lovely night and Jesus sat in the end of 
the boat enjoying the pretty scene. The sun was 
just setting and the little waves reflected the sky's 
colors — gold, red and purple. The moon soon ap- 




peared and as it rose, Jesus watched the soft moon- 
beams sparkling on the water. After awhile, as He 
was very tired, Jesus lay down. I think perhaps 
John, who loved Him best of all, brought a leather 
pillow to put under His head and made Him so 
comfortable that He soon fell asleep. 

i88 



KINDERGAR TEN STORIES 



Then, children, a strange thing happened. The 
httle lake, which had looked so lovely with its rip- 
pling waves, changed quickly and became quite 
rough, for the wind began to blow. The moon went 
under a cloud, the wind blew more and more fiercely 
and the waves grew larger and larger. The dis- 
ciples knew how weary Jesus was, so they did not 
wish to waken Him. Besides, several of them were 
fishermen and had been on the water much of their 
lives, so they knew just how to manage a boat. But 
this was a terrible storm and the waves dashed up 
so high that soon they came over the boat and it 
began to fill with water. The wind, too, rose to a 
hurricane and the poor disciples feared they would 
all be drowned, for they were far from shore. 

In their trouble they hastened to the end of the 
boat where Jesus lay quietly sleeping, in spite of 
the dreadful storm. ''Master, Master, we are 
drowning ! Save us !" they called loudly. 

Jesus awoke, looked calmly at them and at the 
wild tempest which was raging. Then He arose 
and, standing in the end of the boat. He spoke to the 
wind just as if it had been a child and told it to stop 
blowing. 

And, children, the wind heard His voice and in- 
stantly became hushed and still and the lovely moon 
shone out once more. Then looking down at the 
w^ater that was dashing and foaming below Him, 
Jesus said gently, 'Teace ! peace ! be still." 

''The noisy sea trembled ; the choppy waves sank ; 
the lake began to ripple ;" even the ripple ceased and 
the lake lay silent and still. 

189 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The disciples could not believe they were awake. 
It seemed so wonderful that even the wind and the 
weaves would obey Jesus. They did not speak ; they 
were almost afraid of Jesus when they saw His 
wonderful power. But He turned to them and said 
sadly : ''Did you not know that nothing could hurt 
you while- I was with you ? Why were you so 
afraid?" 

Children dear, the loving Saviour is still with us 
and though we cannot see Him, as the disciples did, 
He cares for us just as He did for them and says to 
us, also, "Do not be afraid : I am with 3^ou." 



190 



SUBJECT— THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS. 

Luke 8 .-//-jj . 
Picture— DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS —Hofmann. 



STORY. 



I told you, children, on other Sundays, how Jesus 
made the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk 
and the sick well. You know, also, of the joy that 
He gave to the dear mother by bringing her son 
back to life. Would you like to hear to-day one 
more story of the Great Physician? 

One day Jesus had been taking dinner with Mat- 
thew, who was one of His disciples you remember. 
Before He left the table, a ruler, or great man, 
rushed in, threw himself at Jesus' feet and, in a 
voice choked with tears, cried out : "Master, my 
little daughter — ni}^ only child, who is scarcely 
twelve years old — is dying! Come, oh, come, and 
lay Thy hand upon her. I know, if Thou wilt but 
touch her, she shall live." 

Jesus was always so ready and willing to help 
every one that needed Him, so He arose at once and 
went with Jairus (that was the father's name). 

Now I want to tell you of something that hap- 
pened on the way. There was a woman who had 
been ill for twelve years and though she had gone 
to many doctors and had paid them so mtich money 

191 



. KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

that she was left quite poor, she grew worse rather 
than better. She heard of Jesus and thought if she 
could only touch the tassel of His robe, it would 
make her well. In those davs, instead of coats and 




trousers, men wore long robes, to which white tas- 
sels were fastened. 

There were so many people about Jesus, it was 
very hard for the poor woman to get near Him. 
But at last she found that she could just touch a 

TQ2 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

tassel that hung over His shoulder. At once she 
felt so well ; for the first time in all those long twelve 
years, she had no pain. She was just slipping away 
through the crowd, eager to get home to tell her 
friends what Jesus had done for her, when she 
heard His voice asking, ''Who touched me?" 

His disciples were so surprised at His question and 
said, "Master, the multitude throng about you and do 
you ask who touched you ?" 

But Jesus answered, "I know that son:e one has 
been made well by touching me." 

The woman was so timid among all those people, 
but she saw that Jesus was waiting for her to speak. 
Trembling, she came forward and kneeling down, 
she told Jesus how ill she had been for twelve years. 
She said she knew if she could only touch His gar- 
ment, she would be cured. Jesus looked at her so 
kindly and said: "Daughter, be of good comfort: 
thy faith hath made thee whole ; go in peace." 

While He was speaking to her, a servant came 
running toward them, from Jairus' house, and, as he 
drew near, he said to the ruler: "Thy daughter is 
dead. Do not trouble Jesus any more." 

But when Jesus heard the words. He said to 
Jairus: "Be not afraid, I will make your daughter 
well." 

When He reached the house, He found many 
people weeping and crying aloud, because the little 
girl had died. Jesus said : "Weep not ; she is not 
dead, but sleepeth," which meant that He was so 
soon to bring her back to life, it was as if she had 
just fallen asleep. 

T93 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The people knew that she was really dead and 
could not understand what Jesus meant when He 
said she was only asleep. He did not stop to explain, 
but asked them all to go out of the room where the 
little girl lay. Then He took three of His disciples, 
Peter, James and John, and the father and mother 
and went into the room and closed the door. He 
took the little girl's hand in His, and looking ten- 
derly at her, for you know how He loved little chil- 
dren. He said, 'Xittle maid, arise." 

And, children, the rosy color came back into her 
pale cheeks, her eyes slowly opened and she smiled 
at her mother and father and at Jesus, who were all 
bending over her. 

The dear mother was so glad she did not know 
what to do, but Jesus remembered her, too, so He 
said, "Give the child something to eat." 

Oh, how quickly the mother went to get the food 
for her darling, whom she thought she had lost. I 
am sure she and Jairus thanked Jesus with tears of 
joy for making their precious child well again. 



194 



SUBJECT— SIR LAUNFAL 

Matthew lo :8 {last clause) . 
Picture— CASTLE OF STOLZENFELS. 

Song— "SAVIOUR, TEACH ME, DAY BY DAY,"— Maro L. 

Bartlett. 



STORY. 



Children, we have learned many of the beautiful 
words that Jesus spoke to the people who were 
gathered about Him. To-day would you like to 
learn more of these sweet words and then have me 
tell you a story about them ? Jesus said, "Freely ye 
have received, freely give," which means that, as 
God has given us many blessings ; a happy home, 
food to eat and clothes to wear, and many friends to 
love and care for us, He w^ants us to try to make 
others happy by helping them all we can. Will you 
say the words now after me : "Freely ye have re- 
ceived, freely give." 

The story* I shall tell you was written by a great 
poet, named Lowell, and some day I know you will 
like to read it just as he wrote it. 

His story begins in the summer time, in June, and 
he tells us how happy everything was. The butter- 
cup caught the sun in its yellow heart, the little bird 
sang joyously and every leaf and blade of grass 
made a home for some happy little creature. 

*Adapted from Lowell's "Vision of Sir Launfal. " 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

But amidst all the joy of the summertide ; the 
clear skies, the blue river, the green grass, the blos- 
soming dandelions and the robins building their 
nests, a great castle stretched its towers and turrets 




up toward the sky, gray and cold, like the winter. 
It was a proud building and its gates were only 
opened to let rich lords and ladies come in, the poor 
people being always turned away. 

In the castle lived a young knight, named Sir 
Launfal. (Do you remember the story I told you of 
Sir Galahad and the knights who sat at King 
Arthur's Round Table? It was long, long after 
that time when Sir Launfal lived.) He was strong 
and brave, and very proud of his grand castle, his 
many servants and all his great wealth. He thought 

196 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

he loved Jesus and he wanted to please Him, but he 
had not learned to be loving and kind to those who 
were not so rich as he. 

One time he decided he would ride forth and 
search all over the world for some great thing to 
do which would please God. He had his costly 
armor brought out and everything made ready for 
an early start in the morning, and then he threw 
himself down on his bed for a few hours' sleep. 

Around the castle was a moat, or ditch, which was 
crossed by a little bridge, called a drawbridge. This 
was let down by chains and when it was up, no one 
could enter or leave the castle. I wish 3'OU might 
have seen Sir Launfal as he rode forth across this 
bridge, the next morning. The great, stone castle 
rose behind him, cold and gray, but all else was 
bright and joyous. 

"The little birds sang as if it were 
The one day of summer in all the year, 
And the very leaves seemed to sing on the trees." 

The sun shone on Sir Launfal's armor, turning it 
to gold, and he felt so strong and happy that it was 
a joy just to be alive. 

But as he rode out from his castle, he came upon 
a leper ; a poor man, ragged and dirty, and sick with 
a dreadful disease. The sunshine went out of Sir 
Launfal's heart and instead of helping the leper, he 
scornfully tossed him a gold piece and turned away 
with loathing. 

197 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The leper did not pick up the money. He said he 
would rather have a crust of bread or even kind 
words given lovingly by the poor, than gold thus 
scornfully flung to him by the rich. 

Many, many years passed by. Sir Launfal had 
travelled far and wide, but had never found the great 
thing he sought to do to please God. His hair had 
become gray and his money had all been spent. 

At last, old and weary, he turned homewards, 
but when he reached his castle, he found that people 
had thought he was dead, so they had taken his 
home from him. He was so changed that no one 
knew him, and when he tried to enter his castle, 
they made him go away, just as he had turned beg- 
gars away when he lived there. The wind blew 
his gray hair and seemed to say, "No home, no 
home, no home." 

Poor Sir Launfal drew his thin cloak around him, 
but he shivered in the frosty air. It was winter and 
the wind blew loud and cold. "The little brook 
heard it" and asked Jack Frost to build it a roof of 
ice which should protect it all winter. Sometimes lit- 
tle ferns or stars and diamonds seemed to be drawn 
upon this roof and again it was clear and smooth, so 
the sunlight could shine through, for Jack Frost is 
a wonderful builder. 

In the castle the great logs were piled high in the 
fireplace and sprays of ivy and bright red holly 
trimmed all the rooms, for 'twas the glad Christmas 
time. 

Sir Launfal could look through the gate and see 
the great fire burning on the hearth, but alas ! he 

198 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



could not go in to get warm. He tried to forget the 
bitter cold by remembering summer days when he 
had crossed the desert and had seen the camels pass- 
ing, one by one, the hot sun beating down upon 
them. Just as he was thinking of them, he heard a 
voice which said, "For Jesus' sake, help me." 

He forgot the camels and the hot desert as he saw 
near him the same poor leper who had begged for 
help, when he rode forth from his castle that bright 
summer morning, so long ago. He remembered 
how scornfully he had flung the gold to him and he 
felt so sorry he had not been more kind and loving. 
He said: ''I will give to you as I would give to 
Jesus, Himself, were He here." 

He divided the crust of bread, which was all he 
had, broke the ice on the little stream and gave the 
beggar a drink. It seemed to the leper that he had 
never tasted anything so good as this poor food, 
because Sir Launfal was so tender and loving as he 
gave it. 

Suddenly a beautiful light shone upon Sir Laun- 
fal, and, looking up, he saw — instead of the poor 
leper, Jesus Christ, Himself ! 

Gently He spoke : "Be not afraid, Sir Launfal. 
Over all the world you have searched in vain for 
some great thing to do for me, while here, at your 
very gate, were the poor and sick whom you could 
love and help." 

Just here, children, such a strange thing hap- 
pened ! Sir Launfal aw^oke and found that all this 
had been a dream and that he had never ridden 
forth from his castle at all. But he felt sure that the 

199 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



dream had been sent to teach him not to be proud 
and selfish, so he called to his servants and said : 
''Hang up my armor, for I am not going to travel 
over the world to find some great thing to do for 
God. Instead I am going to be kind and loving to 
all the poor and sick and helpless who live near me/' 
The castle gate was thrown wide open and every 
wanderer was as welcome to come in, as the birds 
are to build their nests in the trees. The summer 
now loved the old castle better than any other place, 
and lingered there and smiled all the year, for it no 
longer stood cold and dark like winter. Instead it 
was always bright and warm and every poor man 
who entered felt as much at home as if he owned it ; 
for Sir Launfal had learned the meaning of Jesus' 
words, ''Freely ye have received, freely give." 



200 



SUBJECT— FEEDING THE MULTITUDE, 

Mark 6 :3i-4-f ; John 6 :3-i3. 
Picture— CHRIST FEEDING THE MULTITUDE— 

MURILLO. 

Song— "FROM THE FAR BLUE HEAVEN." 

( From ^'■Childhood Songs, ' ' page J2. ) 



STORY. 



Children, can you remember some of the kind, 
loving things Jesus did for people, of which I have 
told you ? You know that He healed the sick, com- 
forted all who were in trouble and told many beauti- 
ful stories which helped those who heard them to 
be better men and women. To-day I want to tell 
you of one of the wonderful things He did, which 
showed how much He loved people. 

One day He saw that His disciples were getting 
very tired, as they had been helping Him for many 
hours and the crowds pressing about them had even 
kept them from eating. Though He never thought 
of Himself, Jesus took tender, loving care of these 
friends of His, so He said, "Come ye apart into a 
desert place and rest awhile." 

They took a boat and without telling anyone 
where they were going, they went across the lake 
to a quiet place where no one lived. But some of 
the people saw Jesus go and hurried around by the 
shore, so when He and His disciples left the boat, 

201 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



there were many waiting for them. Jesus couldn't 
bear to send them away, so He healed the sick whom 
they had brought to Him and talked to them until 
evening. / 

Then the disciples came to Him and said : 
''Master, this is a lonely place and 'tis getting late. 




Won't you send the people away now, so they can go 
back to the towns and buy food, for they have noth- 
ing to eat." 

Jesus looked at the great multitude which was 
gathered about Him and He felt very sorry for them. 
It seemed to Him that they were like sheep without 
any shepherd and now they needed food and rest. 
So He turned to His disciples and said, "They need 
not go ; give ye them to eat." 

His disciples were so surprised and said: "Why 
how can we feed so many? If we should buy a 
great deal of bread, it would give each one only a 
little." 

202 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Jesus asked, '*How many loaves of bread have 
you r 

Andrew answered, ''There is a httle lad here who 
has five tiny loaves of barley bread and two small 
fishes, but what are they among so many ?" 

I think, children, that this little fellow had planned 
when he left home that morning to stay all day long 
with Jesus, so he had brought his lunch. 

When Jesus heard what the little boy had. He 
said, "Make the people sit down." 

So the disciples went about among the throngs 
telling them to be seated upon the grass. They were 
so tired that it seemed good to them to rest. I wish 
you might have seen them, children. They sat m 
groups, families with their friends, and their gar- 
ments were of many bright colors, so they looked like 
lovely flowers as they rested upon the green grass. 
Jesus wore a blue robe and His face was wondrously 
beautiful as He smiled upon the people. 

When they were all seated. He looked up to 
heaven and asked God to bless the bread and fishes 
which the little boy had gladly given. Then He 
broke the bread, divided the fish and gave them to 
the twelve disciples to pass to the people. 

Now, children, such a wonderful thing happened ! 
As the people took the bread and fish, there was 
always just as much for the next ones. The dis- 
ciples passed the baskets to one group after another 
and still the food* lasted. Finally every one of all 
that great multitude had eaten all he wished. 

203 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Then Jesus said, "Gather up aU that is left," and 
only think, children, the disciples filled twelve 
baskets full. 

Wasn't Jesus kind and loving not only to heal 
sick people, but even to feel so sorry for those who 
were hungry that He gave them food. 



204 



SUBJECT— A CUP OF COLD WATER. 

Matthew lo :^2. 

Picture— THE THREE FRIENDS— Elizabeth 
Gardner. 

Song— "LITTLE DROPS OF WATER," second verse. 
{^From "Songs and Hymns for the Primary Sunday School,^ P'^K^ SS') 



STORY. 

The most beautiful illustration of this verse which 
I know is the sweet story entitled, "The Cup of 
IvOving Service," by Eliza D. Taylor, an inexpen- 
sive pamphlet edition of which can be bought at 
any bookstore. It should be shortened and simpli- 
fied to tell in the Kindergarten and might be intro- 
duced thus : 

Do you know, children, that Jesus is just as much 
pleased with little things, if they are done with a 
loving spirit, as with larger ones. 'Tis often only 
these little things that children can do, is it not? 

One day Jesus said these words which I want to 
read to you from our best Book : "Whosoever shall 
give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of 
cold water only * * h^ I say unto you he shall in no 
wise lose his reward." That means that Jesus notices 
even so small a thing as a cup of water given to a 
little thirsty child. 

Would you like to hear to-day a story of a little 
boy who remembered these words of Jesus and used 
to give water to those who were thirsty ? 

205 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

He lived a long, long while ago, far away from 
here in a little valley with great mountains rising all 
about it. His home, which was far from all others, 
was a plain little house, but it had a pretty garden 



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and the grass was kept neatly cut about it. He lived 
alone with his mother and he was so loving and 
helpful that he made her very happy. There were 
many others, also, whom the dear little fellow used 
to help. 

2o6 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Up the mountain wound a steep, rough road and 
people who had to cHmb it used to get very tired, 
hot and thirsty. Near the house where the httle 
boy Hved was a spring of cold, sparkling water, 
almost hidden by a great rock which hung over it, 
and this water he would carry to the weary travel- 
lers. 

One day he saw a little girl coming up the road, 
leading a goat, and he ran out and gave her a cup of 
water which she was so glad to stop and take. He 
gave the goat, also, a drink and then they went on 
up the mountain, the little girl waving her hand and 
saying, again and again, how much she thanked him. 

As he went down the path to his home, he saw a 
little dog, hot and panting, lying by the road. He 
stooped over and patted him, saying, "Poor doggie, 
would you, too, like a drink?" 

The dog lapped the water eagerly and then 
wagged its tail and looked up gratefully, trying to 
say, ''Thank you," to its little friend. 

(This would explain the picture and suggest an 
act of kindness each child could do.) 



207 



SUBJECT— THE LOST LAMB. 

John 10 : J {last clause), 7,5, //, 2y ; Psalm 2j. 
Picture— THE LOST SHEEP— Molitor. 

Songs— "LITTLE LAMBS SO WHITE AND FAIR." 

[From ^^ Songs and Games for Little Ones, p^g^ Qj ^l^o in '■'■Songs and 
Hymns Jar the Primary Sunday School, ' page g. \ 

AND "THE GOOD SHEPHERD"— Beardsley Van de Water. 
( This to be sung to the children. ) 



STORY. 



Do you remember, children, the story I told you 
of Jesus feeding the multitude with just the five 
loaves and two fishes which the little boy had 
brought? You know Jesus said that He felt sorry 
for the people because they were like sheep that had 
no shepherd. In the country where He lived many 
sheep fed upon the hills and He often watched them 
and saw what tender care the shepherds took of 
them. (You remember, perhaps, the shepherds near 
Bethlehem, to whom the angels brought the good 
news that Christ was born.) 

As you know, even before Jesus came to the 
earth, He was called the Good Shepherd. The 
grown people were His sheep, while the dear little 
children were His lambs. Would you like to have 
me read what Jesus said about a shepherd? ''He" 
(that is the shepherd) ''calleth his own sheep by 

208 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



name, and leadeth them out. /\nd when he putteth 
forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the 
sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a 
strano-er thev will not follow, but will flee from him, 




for they know not the voice of strangers. I am the 
Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known 
of mine" (that is my sheep know me). "My ^hi^ep 
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow 
me. 

209 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Shall I tell you a story now about a little lamb ? 
Once upon a time, far away from here in a hilly 
country, there lived a shepherd who had many sheep 
and lambs. Every day he used to lead them out 
quite a long way from his home over the hills to 
the places where they could find the best grass. 
There was a little stream which flowed so quietly 
through the meadows and by this the shepherd 
would lead his flocks. When they were weary, they 
would lie down upon the green grass and rest. 

Through the winter their wool grew very thick 
and heavy so as to keep them warm, but when the 
springtime came the shepherd sheared them, which 
means he cut off the wool with large scissors, or 
shears, so they might be cool and comfortable dur- 
ing the summer. Do you know what is made out of 
the nice, warm wool that comes from the sheep? 
(Let the children tell of their clothing and other 
things made from wool.) 

This shepherd had such a nice dog named Watch, 
who helped him lead the sheep to the best places 
for them to find food. Watch would never hurry 
nor frighten them, but he would keep them from 
straying away. 

At night the shepherd led them home and put 
them in a sheepcot, or large, nice shed, where no 
wild animals could hurt them and where they would 
keep warm. He knew every one of his sheep and 
lambs and they, too, knew his voice and would 
follow when he called. 

One day, late in the fall, the shepherd was starting 
out to take his sheep to the pasture, when his wife 

210 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

said: "John dear, I wouldn't take the sheep out, 
if I were you ; it looks so dark I fear we shall have 
a storm." 

But he replied : "The sheep like the grass so 
much better than the hay which I have to feed them 
in the winter that I wish to take them out as long 
as I can. If it storms, I'll soon get them home, so 
don't worry about me." 

Among the lambs was one that skipped and played 
so much that the shepherd called him Frisky. On 
this dark day, after the sheep had reached the green 
pasture. Frisky coaxed some of the little lambs to 
run away when Watch wasn't looking. They 
skipped about, getting farther and farther from the 
sheep, until at last the others were frightened and 
ran back to their mothers. Frisky, however, wanted 
to show how much braver he was, so he ran still 
farther until he came to some bramble bushes which 
caught his wool. In trying to pull himself free, he 
went deeper into the bushes and couldn't get out. 
The more he struggled, the more the cruel thorns 
pricked him. 

Meanwhile it grew darker and darker and the 
shepherd decided to take the sheep home. Just as 
he was starting, the snow began to fall and the poor 
sheep were so frightened. They huddled together 
and bleated, "baa, baa ;" but the kind shepherd kept 
calling them and Watch helped very faithfully, run- 
ning now to this place and now to that, whenever a 
sheep was getting away from the others. At last 
they came to the fold and as the sheep went in, the 
shepherd counted them. He had just one hundred, 

211 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

but he found that he had brought only ninety-nine 
home. Little Frisky's mamma was crying, ''baa, 
baa," for her little lamb, so the shepherd knew which 
one was lost. 

He went to the house to get a warmer coat, for 
a terrible snow storm was raging, the wind was 
blowing and it was bitterly cold. His wife begged 
him not to go, saying he would lose his way and 
perish in the snow, but he said that little Frisky 
would freeze if left out in the cold and that he and 
Watch could find their way. 

They started off, looking all along the path and 
listening for the little lamb's bleating. They went 
way back to the pasture, such a long, hard way as 
the snow was so deep that the shepherd stumbled 
over the stones which he could not see, and several 
times he fell. Still they didn't find Frisky, so they 
went on and on until they came to the bramble 
bushes. 

Poor little Frisky was still there, caught firmly 
by the cruel thorns. He was so cold and very much 
frightened by the darkness and snow and oh, how 
glad he was to hear his dear shepherd's voice call- 
ing. He said "baa, baa," and though it was a feeble 
little voice, the shepherd heard and came into the 
bra.mble bushes to find his little lamb. The sharp 
thorns pierced his hands so the blood flowed from 
the wounds, but at last he freed the poor little crea- 
ture. He took him in his strong arms, close against 
his breast and wrapped his warm cloak about the 
shivering little body. Frisky said "baa, baa," to 
show how glad he was to be safe once more and 

212 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

I think he tried to tell how sorry he felt that he had 
run away and made the kind shepherd so much 
trouble. 

The shepherd carried him back to his home where 
his wife was so glad to see him and little Frisky, 
too. Then after he had given the little lamb some 
warm milk, he took him out to the sheepcot to his 
mother, wdio bleated joyously to show how happy 
she was to get her baby back again. 

Now I'm going to ask Mr. to sing a 

beautiful song about Jesus, the Good Shepherd. It 
was written by a great and good king, whose name 
was David, and I think I will read it to you first, so 
you can understand the words as they are sung. 

(Read the twenty-third Psalm, explaining briefly, 
and at the close of the song, ask the children to learn 
the first and second verses.) 



213 



SUBJECT— THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 

Luke 10 :2j-jy. 
Picture— THE GOOD SAMARITAN— Plockhorst. 

Song— "SERVING THE KING," first and third verses. 
i^From ^'■Song and Study for God's Little Ones,'' P^K^ lo6.) 



STORY. 



Would you like me to tell you to-day, children, 
one of Jesus' own beautiful stories? One day a 
lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to go to heaven. 
I think God would rather we should be good and 
help others here than just try to get to heaven our- 
selves, don't you ? 

When the lawyer asked Him this question, Jesus 
replied, "What does the Bible say you must do?" 

The lawyer had often studied the Bible, so he 
answered quite readily, "It says we must love God 
with all our hearts and our neighbors as much as 
we love ourselves." 

Jesus answered, "Yes, that is right ; if you do 
that you will go to heaven." 

But the lawyer asked another question, "Who is 
my neighbor?" 

If he had asked this of you, children, what would 
you say? Who do you think your neighbors are? 
The people who live next door or very near you. 
That is just what the lawyer thought, but listen to 
what Jesus said. He answered by telling this story : 

214 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Once a man had to take a long journey from 
Jericho to Jerusalem. (You remember that the 
Temple was at Jerusalem, where Christ went with 




his parents when He was a boy and where He talked 
to the wise men.) 

This man had to go over a rough road where 
there were not many people passing and as he came 
to a very lonely spot, some robbers, who had been 
hiding there, sprang out and attacked him. They 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



knocked him down and then stole all his money and 
even most of his clothing, leaving him half dead. 

Now it chanced that a priest had to pass that 
way. He was thought to be a very good man, for 
he used to stand on the corner of the streets and 
make long prayers and he would give money to the 
poor, if people were near and could see him, so they 
might say how kind and good he was. But here on 
this road he was all alone and as he walked along, 
he suddenly saw this wounded man. He thought, 
^'No one will know it if I am good to him, so it 
isn't worth while to give him any help." He passed 
by, therefore, on the other side of the road, leaving 
the poor man to suffer. 

Then a Levite came along. He really was a very 
busy man, as he had many things to do about the 
Temple and perhaps he was even then going on some 
errand. He, also, came to the man lying in the 
road and he went up to him and looked at him. He 
thought, "I would help him if I were not so 
busy, but God wouldn't want me to neglect my 
work," so he, too, passed by. 

Then there came by a Samaritan, and I must stop 
long enough to tell you that the Samaritans, who 
lived in Samaria, didn't like the Jews, who lived in 
Jerusalem. They often quarrelled with them and 
why do you suppose they cjuarrelled? — the very 
strangest reason ! The Jews thought people must 
go to church at Jerusalem and pray to God there, 
while the Samaritans thought it was right to wor- 
ship God on a mountain in their country. Wasn't 

216 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



it strange to quarrel about such a thing as that? 1 
am glad we know that we can worship God every- 
where and can pray to Him in our homes, when we 
are visiting our friends or anywhere we happen 
to be. 

This man who now came along the lonely road 
was a Samaritan. Perhaps he was busy, too, and 
hoped to get home before it grew dark. But as he 
journeyed, he came to the place where the wounded 
man lay and when he saw him, he felt sorrv for 
him. He saw that he was a Jew but he didn't say, 
"I don't like Jews and they don't like me, so of 
course I can't help this man." 

Instead he bound up his wounds, pouring oil and 
wine upon the sore places to make them heal. He 
gave him some wine to drink, to strengthen him, 
and when the poor man opened his eyes, he saw a 
kind face bending over him. I think he smiled at 
the Samaritan, for it must have seemed so good to 
know he was with a friend and not with the robbers 
who had been so cruel to him. 

When the man was able to sit up, the good Sa- 
maritan put him on his own mule and then though 
he was tired from his journey, he walked at his side 
a long way until he came to the next inn, or small 
hotel, on the road. He spent the night there taking 
care of him and the next morning, as he had to con- 
tinue his journey, he went to the landlord and said, 
"Will you please take care of this wounded man?" 
He then gave him some money and said, ''If 
you spend more than this for him, I'll pay you 
when I next pass over this road." 

217 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

''Now," said Jesus to the lawyer, ''which of these 
men do you think was a neighbor to the wounded 
man?" Which would yoii say, children? The 
Samaritan ? Yes, that was what the lawyer thought 
and he said, "He that shewed mercy to him was his 
neighbor." 

Then Jesus said, "Go and do likewise," that is, 
be kind and merciful not only to the people you like 
and who live near you, but to every one who needs 
your help. 



i8 



SUBJECT— PRAYER, 

Matthew ij :i-i8 ; 26-jg ; Ltike 2j :j^; John ly :g-26. 
Picture— CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE— Hofmann. 



STORY. 



Children, we have been talking for many, many 
weeks about dear Jesus and all the kind, loving 
things which He did when He was here upon earth. 
Do you know who helped Him live such a beautiful 
life? It was God, the heavenly Father — Jesus' 
Father and ours, also. 

How can we talk to God, children ? Yes, we can 
pray to Him. Did you know that Jesus used to talk 
to His heavenly Father in just this same way? 
Many, many times the Bible tells us that Jesus went 
away alone by himself to pray. 

Before he asked His twelve disciples to stay with 
Him and help Him preach to people, He went into 
a mountain and prayed all night long to God. I 
think He asked His heavenly Father to help Him 
choose just the right men. 

Then do you remember the time when He fed so 
many people with only five loaves and two fishes? 
After the multitude had gone home that night, Jesus 
was very weary as He had been teaching and heal- 
ing all day. But instead of going to bed, He went 
up on a mountain and there prayed to God and I 
think this rested Him and gave Him more strength 

2I() 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

than even sleep could have done. He loved the 
mountain and the beautiful lake whose waves beat 
upon the shore just below. I think that when it 
was so quiet and still, the water, the trees and the 




clear, bright stars all seemed to talk to Him and as 
He knelt there all alone, He felt very near to God 
and very sure of His Father's love. 

Another time when he had been healing a great 
many sick people, He left them and went into a 

220 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

lonely place that He might talk to God; again, He 
arose very early one morning, long before daylight, 
and went away by Himself to a quiet spot to pray. 

Once He took three of His disciples, Peter, James 
and John, and went up on a mountain. There, as 
He prayed. His face became as bright as the sun and 
the robe that He wore was changed to dazzling 
white. Two grand old men who had been in heaven 
for many years came to talk to Him. I think God 
sent them that they might help Jesus and give Him 
strength and comfort. The disciples were so very 
tired when they climbed the mountain that they fell 
asleep. Just think how surprised they must have 
been, when they awoke, to see Jesus' face shining so 
brightly they could not look upon it, and his wonder- 
ful white garments and the two men talking to Him ! 

Peter said, "Lord, let us build three houses for 
you and your friends and always stay here on the 
mountain.'' 

But as he spoke, a cloud covered them, and from 
the cloud they heard a voice which said, ''This is my 
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased : hear Him." 

The disciples were so frightened that they covered 
their faces, but Jesus came and touched them and 
said, "Be not afraid." 

He then told them that they could not stay on the 
mountain all the time even to talk to God and to hear 
Him speaking to them, because people down below 
needed His help. When they went down they found 
a father who had brought his poor, sick son for 
Jesus to heal and he was so glad when Jesus touched 
him and made him well. I think Peter saw then that 

221 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



it was well they had all come down, so that Jesus 
could give help and comfort to those who needed 
Him. 

Toward the end of His life Jesus knew that great 
pain was coming to Him. He dreaded it just as you 
or I, children dear, would do, if we knew we were 
to suffer, so He went away alone and asked God to 
save Him from this suffering. When He had prayed 
thus, He added, "Not as I will, O my Father, but as 
Thou wilt." That means that if God knew this 
pain was best for Him, He would be willing to have 
it sent, for He always wanted to do just as His 
heavenly Father wished. God did not take the pain 
away, but He sent a beautiful angel to Jesus who 
gave Him more strength to bear it. 

After this wicked men were unkind and cruel to 
Jesus. He had always loved them and tried to help 
them and He was very much grieved that they 
should be so unloving towards Him. But instead of 
being angry and wishing to punish them. He prayed 
to God and said, "Father, forgive them." 

There are many other prayers of Jesus in the 
Bible, but I can tell you of just one more. In it He 
did not pray for Himself, but for His disciples, the 
dear friends whom he so loved and who had been 
with Him for a long time. He gathered them all 
closely about Him and then He asked God to comfort 
them, when He went back to heaven and could 
no longer be with them, and keep them from all 
wrong. He prayed that they might be very happy, 

222 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

that they might always be kind and loving and that 
after a time they might come to heaven where He 
would be waiting for them. 

Are we not glad to know, children dear, that we 
can talk to the heavenly Father, just as Jesus did, 
and that He will give us, also, help and strength ? 



223 



SUBJECT— HOW TO PRAY, 

Ltike II :i ; Matthew 6 :g-i^ ; J :ii ; 26 :jg. 
Picture — SAMUEL — Sir Joshua Reynolds. 

Song— "SERVING THE KING," second and fourth verses. 
i^From '■'■Song and Study for God's Little Ones,'' P'^K^ /06.) 



STORY. 



Last Sunday, children, I told you how often dear 
Jesus used to pray to His heavenly Father. One 
day His disciples were with Him and as He finished 
praying, they said, "Lord, teach us to pray.'' Then 
J esus taught them the prayer which perhaps some of 
you know and which I hope you all will learn when 
you are a little older. 

It begins, "Our Father which art in heaven." 
Are we not glad to know that we have a dear, loving 
Father up in heaven? I will not tell you all the 
beautiful words, but some I know you can under- 
stand. Do you think that the angels and all the 
people who have gone to heaven do just what God 
wishes them to do? Yes, I am sure it makes them 
very happy to please Him. Jesus taught us to ask 
God to make us just as willing and ready to do 
what He wished here, as the angels are in heaven. 

Another part of the prayer is, "Give us this day 
our daily bread," and I want to tell you a little story 

224 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

about these words. Many years ago near a great 
mountain lived a woman and her two Httle girls. 
They were very poor and the mother could not get 
any work to do. Day by day the food they had 




grew less until there was none left. As they ate the 
last piece of bread for supper, Elsa, one of the little 
girls, said, "We'll just pray to God, Mamma, and He 
will send us more," so they all knelt and prayed, 
''Give us, Lord, our daily bread." 

225 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The children then went to bed, and as their mother 
kissed them good-night, Elsa said, "Don't worry. 
Mamma, I know God will send us something to eat 
before morning." 

'Twas winter time, bitterly cold and a wild snow 
storm was raging. Out in the storm was a man who 
had started to walk over the mountain, but he had 
lost his way and didn't know as he should ever see 
his home again. Just as he felt he could go no 
farther, he saw a light and coming nearer, he found 
the little house where Elsa lived. A few sticks of 
wood, which the mother had picked up, were burn- 
ing on the hearth and on the window stood a little 
candle which threw out the light the traveller had 
seen. He knocked at the door and w^hen the mother 
opened it, he asked if he might come in. The mother 
said, "Yes, indeed, I am glad to share the fire with 
you, as you look so very cold." 

Then she added, "I wish I might give you some- 
thing to eat, but we have nothing in the house, as 
the children had the last piece of bread for their 
supper." 

The man replied, "I have bread and cold meat 
with me which will do for breakfast for us all." 

The mother fixed a bed for him and he was very 
glad to find a shelter from the storm. 

The next morning, when the man gave them his 
lunch, Elsa said, "I just know God sent you to bring 
us the bread for which we prayed." 

The man v/as very sorry to learn of all the trouble 
the m.other and little girls had had. He gave them 
some money to buy more food and told the mother 

226 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

that he knew of people not far away who would 
give her work; so after that they all had easier, 
happier times. 

God sends us, also, our bread, children, and all 
the other nice things we have to eat and I think 
Jesus taught us these words, ''Give us this day our 
daily bread," so we should remember that every- 
thing comes from Him. 

Another part of the prayer asks God to forgive us, 
as we forgive those who have been unkind to us. 
One time two little boys had been quarrelling; they 
were very angry and at last one said, ''I just hate 
you, Tommy, and I won't play with you any more." 

He ran home and told his mother how horrid and 
mean Tommy was. That night he knelt down and 
prayed, "Forgive us, as we forgive others," and 
then he stopped to think. Mamma had often told 
him that if he felt angry toward others and did not 
forgive them, he could not ask God to forgive him. 
Just as he was praying, he thought of Tommy and 
said, ''I just can't forgive him; he was so mean." 

Then he remembered that he, too, had spoken 
cross, ugly words and he said, *'Oh dear, I'm afraid 
I was just as bad as Tommy and I'll go to him to- 
morrow and say I'm sorry and ask him to be friends 
again." 

After he had decided to do this, I think he could 
pray, "Forgive us, as we forgive others," don't you, 
children ? 

Then the prayer says, "Deliver" (or keep) "us 
from evil" (or from doing wrong), and I think God 
wants us to help answer this prayer, ourselves. If 

227 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

a little girl's mamma had told her that she must not 
take any of the fruit on the sideboard, wouldn't she 
be very foolish to go and stand by the fruit and 
think, "Oh, how good it looks ! I just wish I could 
take some?" Instead she ought to run away, ought 
she not ? where she wouldn't ^ee it nor be tempted to 
take it. 

In the last part of the prayer, we say, "For Thine 
is the power," which means that God is able to do 
all we ask, and we know that He loves us and wants 
to give us everything that will make us happy. The 
Bible says that just as fathers and mothers love to 
give good things to their children, so God will give 
good things to all who ask Him. 

But, children, suppose a little baby boy should 
reach out his hand toward a bright lamp and say, 
"Give it to me," would his mother let him have it? 
No, indeed, for she would know that the lamp would 
set the baby on fire and burn him. Or if you should 
want to eat a great deal of candy, would your papa 
give it to you ? No, for he would know that it would 
make you ill. So the dear heavenly Father does not 
always giA^e us everything we ask, because He knows 
it would not be best for us. 

You remember that when Jesus prayed, He said, 
''Not my will, O Father, but Thine be done," which 
meant, ''Give me not what I want, but what Thou 
wishest me to have." 

Let us remember to pray in this way. We can 
ask God for everything we want, but then let us say, 
"Give me onlv what is best for me." 



228 



SUBJECT— THE HOSPITAL PARTY. 

Luke // :i2-i^. 
Picture— DEAR LITTLE FOLK— Papperitz. 

Song — 'SUNBEAM SONG," — Mrs. Blodgett, third verse. 

i^From Song Leaflets. — Blackmer IHusic Company, Publishers.^ 



STORY. 



Children, Jesus noticed that when people gave 
parties, they only asked those who had invited them. 
A man would say, "That man invited me to dinner, 
so I must have him dine with me." 

Or perhaps some lady would think: 'Tf I invite 
those people to my home, they will ask me when 
they next give a party. They are wealthy and have 
a beautiful house, so I'd like to go there." 

Jesus felt sorry that the people did thus, so one 
day He said : "When you give a dinner, do not ask 
just your relatives and friends nor your rich neigh- 
bors ; for, if you do, they will ask you again and thus 
you will receive your reward. But invite instead, 
the poor, the lame and the blind, and you shall be 
blessed, for, as they cannot reward you, God will do 
so." 

To-day would you like me to tell you a story of 
a little girl who gave a party which I am sure pleased 
Jesus? Her name was Elizabeth but she was called 
Betty by all her friends. She had two little sisters, 

229 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Marjorie and Eleanor, and they all lived in a large, 
beautiful home a little way out from a city. 

The little girls had many animals ; Shetland ponies 
which took them on the finest rides, pretty little 
white rabbits and some Maltese ones, also, of a 




lovely gray color. They had dogs and kitties, too, 
and Eleanor had a dear little lamb which loved to 
follow her. In the picture you can see the three 
little girls and some of their friends, playing with 
the lamb. 

At the time of my story, Betty was soon to have a 
birthday, as she was almost six years old, and her 
mamma had promised her a party. She always 
loved to go to parties and she was so glad she, her- 

230 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



self, could now have one. She talked about it with 
her sisters and they planned to invite all the children 
who had asked them to their parties. 

On Sunday papa asked his little girls if they 
would like to go with him in the afternoon to see 
the children in the hospital. He had telephoned and 
found it would be quite safe to take them. They 
always loved to go with papa anywhere and were 
delighted at the idea of making this visit. 

They took a little ride in the cars, a short walk 
and then they came to the hospital, such a large, fine 
building. The matron, who was a sweet, lovely 
woman, came in to see them and after a few mo- 
ments took them up to the ward, or rooms, where the 
children were. Some of them lay in little beds and 
looked so thin and white that Betty and her sisters 
felt very sorry for them. 

Then the matron took them into the room where 
the children stayed when they were getting better. 
It had many windows, so it was flooded with sun- 
shine. There were pretty pictures on the walls and 
it looked so pleasant, the little girls felt it wouldn't 
be very hard to stay there. But when they saw 
the poor little ones, they knew that even the bright 
room couldn't make them quite happy. They lay 
on soft lounges, or rested in chairs in which they 
could lie down or sit up. Many of them had to keep 
very still as their back or legs had been hurt ; others 
could walk a little on crutches, but all of them had 
some trouble which kept them from running about. 

One dear little fellow, Vivian, the children es- 
pecially loved. He had soft, dark hair and large 

231 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

brown eyes and such a sweet smile. He had trouble 
with his back and for weeks and weeks had had to 
lie still, while he often suffered great pain. Betty 
asked how old he was and found that his birthday 
came just when hers did and that he, too, would be 
six. 

After the children had visited together for awhile, 
papa told them all a story and then he had to take his 
little ones home. Vivian and the other children 
asked them to come again and papa said he would 
certainly bring them. 

Betty was very quiet as she went home, for she 
was thinking about the poor little invalids. She 
knew it must be very hard for them to lie still and 
suffer so much pain, and even to stay in that bright, 
pretty room wasn't so nice as to be able to run out 
of doors and have a happy time with other children. 
Again and again she thought of dear little Vivian, 
with his beautiful eyes and sweet face, who was just 
as old as she, but wasn't to have any party when his 
birthday came. 

When they reached home, the little girls ran to tell 
mamma of their visit and she was so interested in 
hearing of the little invalids. Betty said, "Oh, Mam- 
ma, I do wish I could do something for those Httle 
children." 

That night when she knelt to pray, she asked God 
to bless the poor little sick children and she added, 
^'Show me, dear Jesus, something I can do to make 
them happy." 

When she awoke the next morning such a nice 
plan came into her mind. She thought she'd ask 

232 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

mamma if she might have a party for Vivian instead 
of for herself. Then she remembered all her own 
little friends v^hom she was going to invite and 
for a moment she felt she must have her own party. 
But as she thought of all the little invalids who had 
to keep so still and couldn't run about nor play, she 
decided she would rather make them happy. 

She couldn't wait to get dressed, so she ran into 
mamma's room and crept into her bed while she 
talked about her plan. Mamma and papa both 
thought it would be very nice to have the party for 
the little sufferers, so after breakfast mamma took 
Betty and drove to the hospital to talk to the matron 
about it. She, too, was much pleased and told 
mamma just what the children could have to eat. 

When the day came, children, I wish you might 
have looked into that pretty sitting-room at the 
hospital. A little table stood in the middle of the 
room and on it were pretty dishes, lovely flowers 
and many nice things to eat. In the center was a 
simple cake, covered with white frosting and on 
this, in tiny pink candies, were two names, Betty 
and Vivian, for mamma said the party should be 
for both. Six little pink candles were about the 
edge of the cake and before it was brought in, the 
shades were pulled down and the candles lit. The 
eyes of the little invalids shone as bright as the 
candles for they had never seen so pretty a cake. It 
was such fun, too, to blow out the little lights, one 
by one. 

Would you like to know what they had for the 
party? There were dainty sandwiches, cut into 

233 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

diamonds and triangles, little wafers tied with pink- 
ribbon and animal crackers which made the children 
laugh. It seemed so funny to eat elephants and 
camels and queer little monkeys. There was pretty 
pink jelly, too and milk tea served in cunning little 
pink cups. 

Last of all they had such a beautiful surprise. 
There was a little animal or bird for each child and 
what do you suppose it was made of ? Ice cream ! 
Just think how wide the children's eyes opened ! 
Even Betty, Eleanor and Marjorie didn't know of 
this, for mamma had kept it a secret from them, too. 
Every child had something different; a bird, a 
chicken, a rabbit, a lamb, a dog, or a kitty. Besides 
the birthday cake, they had little cakes made like 
hearts and stars. At each place were little Chinese 
napkins showing such funny faces and bonbons 
which opened with a snap. Inside was a tissue 
paper bonnet or cap, which every little child wore. 

Of course only the little children who were well 
enough to sit up or to be wheeled into the pretty 
sitting-room could come to the party, but Betty and 
mamma took something to all the little sufferers in 
the ward, before the party began; jelly or fruit or 
whatever the nurses said would not hurt them. 
Betty had flowers, too, for every one; lovely sweet 
peas, or fragrant carnations that kept fresh so long, 
or dear little pansies whose bright faces always 
bring pleasant thoughts. It made Betty so happy to 
see how the thin, pale faces of the poor little suf- 
ferers would light up with pleasure as she gave them 

234 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

the flowers. At the party every one had such a 
good thue and Vivian said, "I just wish I could be 
six years old every day !" 

When Betty at last went home, she said, ''Oh, 
Mamma, 'twas the best and happiest party I ever 
had and I'm so glad I gave it at the hospital." 



235 



SUBJECT— TEDDY'S FREE DAY. 

Luke 75 : 1 1-24. 
Picture— HEAD OF CHILD— Greuze. 



STORY. 



(One of the lessons taught by the Prodigal Son 
is the wrong use of independence, which I have tried 
to illustrate in this little story.) 

Children, do you ever want to have your own way 
instead of doing as papa and mamma wish? Shall 
I tell you to-day a story of a little boy who wanted 
to please only himself ? 

Teddy was an only child and usually he was a 
very dear little fellow, but he sometimes did find it 
hard to mind. One night as he was having a cosy 
talk with mamma when she put him to bed, he said, 
'.'Oh, Mamma, I'd like it so much if I could do just 
what I please, as grown people do, and didn't have 
to mind you." 

''Grown people cannot always please themselves, 
dear," replied mamma. I often do things for papa 
when I'd rather do something else and many, many 
times I work for my little boy when I'd like to rest 
or be busy in other ways. But if you'd really like to 
please only yourself, you may try it to-morrow." 

"For all day!" Teddy exclaimed. "May I do 
just what I like all day long?" 

236 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



"Yes," answered mamma, "you can play you 
didn't have a mamma or papa whom you must obey." 

Teddy thought he should have the very happiest 
day of his life and he fell asleep making all sorts of 
plans for the morrow. 




When he awoke his first thought was, "I don't 
have to mind any one so I won't get up for break- 
fast, as 'twill be such fun to stay in bed late." 

He jumped up and found some toys which he took 
to bed and there he played until papa and mamma 

^?>7 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

had finished their breakfast. As papa left the house, 
he called up, ''Good-bye, little son, I missed you at 
breakfast." 

Teddy felt a little sorry he hadn't been at the 
table for he always had a happy time there. Then, 
too, he missed his papa's good-bye kiss, but he soon 
thought, "Tis so much nicer to do just as I please 
and stay in bed." 

After awhile he began to grow hungry, and so he 
decided to get up. He always liked to wear his 
best clothes, so he put them all on. Then he went 
down stairs but he found the breakfast things cleared 
away. He went to the kitchen and said, "Oh, Nora, 
can't I have some breakfast ?" 

"Why I thought you didn't want any, said Nora, 
"as you didn't come down. I'm very busy now, 
so I can't wait on you, but there's bread and plenty 
of milk, if you'd like them." 

Teddy sat down in the kitchen and ate the cold 
bread and drank the milk but it wasn't so good as a 
nice, hot breakfast and he wished he'd come down 
earlier. When he had finished, he went out in the 
yard and ran up and down with Fido, his little dog, 
who barked and tried to say how glad he was to 
have Teddy play with him. 

After awhile Teddy happened to see a little bird 
house which papa had put up so the birdies might 
build their nests in it. Papa had said he must not 
touch it as he would frighten the birds, but he 
thought that to-day, when he could do as he liked 
and need mind no one, he would look in. He 
brought a short ladder, put it against the tree and 

238 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

climbed up so he could peep into the bird house. 
But it was rather dark and he could see nothing. 
He thought he heard a little noise, however, so he 
put his hand in to see what he could feel. But alas ! 
he pulled it out quickly with a cry of pain. There 
were no birdies in the little house but a great wasp 
had made its nest there. It was very angry when 
Teddy's little hand appeared and stung him to make 
him go away. Poor Teddy ran screaming to the 
house to find mamma. (He was very glad he had 
a mamma, even though he didn't have to mind her.) 
She was so sorry for him and went out of doors 
and put some soft mud on the place that had been 
stung, which eased the pain very quickly. Then 
she kissed the little hand and bound it up carefully 
in a clean, white cloth. Teddy was glad to stay with 
her and be rocked and petted for a little while. 

When lunch time came there was some rich jam 
on the table which Teddy did not usually eat, so he 
asked his mamma if he might have some. Mamma 
smiled and said, "Do not ask me; you know you are 
to please only yourself to-day." 

Teddy took some of the jam and it tasted so good 
that he helped himself again and again. 

After lunch he thought he would go fishing. 
There was a little stream not very far from the house 
where he had sometimes been with papa to fish, but 
never alone before. He was so glad to think he could 
go all by himself to-day without asking anybody 
about it. He found the little pole his papa had 
given him and went to the stream. He walked out 
on some big stones, as papa had done, and threw 

239 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

his line in the water. As he pulled it about, some- 
thing on the bottom caught the hook and when 
he leaned over to see what was the matter, his 
foot slipped and — over he fell ! The water wasn't 
deep, but he was quite wet and oh, how his nice, 
best clothes looked ! They were muddy and dirty, 
dripping with water and torn, too, in several places. 
Little Teddy ran to the house, slipped up the back 
stairs and hurried to put on some dry clothes. He 
tried to wipe the mud off the others and then hung 
them up to dry. 

He decided he wouldn't go out again, so he played 
with his toys and read his books until papa came 
home. Papa thought his little boy's face did not 
look so happy and bright as usual, but he said 
nothing. 

When seven o'clock came, Teddy's bedtime, no 
one told him to go to bed, so he sat in the library 
with papa and mamma and looked at a picture book. 
He found a picture of some monkeys and they 
made him think he would go to a park where he'd 
been once with papa to see some monkeys that were 
there. Papa had told him then not to go too near the 
cage as the monkeys might hurt him. But to-day 
Teddy went quite close and wa? looking at a funny 
little monkey way at the top of the cage, when sud- 
denly a great big one put his claws through the bars, 
seized Teddy's hair and pulled it so hard he screamed 
with the pain. 

''Why Teddy dear, what is the matter?" asked 
mamma. 

240 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Teddy opened his eyes and there he sat in the big- 
arm chair with the book of pictures on his lap and 
a great monkey looking at him from the page. 
Teddy was glad it wasn't a real, live one which had 
him by the hair ! 

"I think I'll go to bed, Mamma," said he, "and will 
you go with me ?" 

As mamma tucked him in bed, Teddy threw his 
arms around her neck and said : ''Oh, Mamma, it 
was perfectly horrid doing what I pleased — my 
finger still hurts a little where the wasp stung me, 
I feel sick and wish I hadn't eaten so much jam 
and it wasn't any fun to fall in the water and spoil 
my best clothes. I'm sure I'd rather do what you 
think best and mind you and papa after this." 



241 



SUBJECT— THE PRODIGAL SON. 

Luke ij :ii-2^. 
Picture— THE PRODIGAL SON— Molitor. 



STORY. 



Do you remember, children, the story we had last 
Sunday of little Teddy who wanted to do just as he 
pleased, but found it was nicer to mind papa and 
mamma? Would you like to hear to-day a story 
that dear Jesus told of a young man who wished to 
please only himself? 

There was once a man who had two sons ; he was 
quite rich and the two boys had many, many things 
to make them happy. But as they grew older the 
younger son grew tired of staying at home and 
doing what his father wished him to do, so he de- 
cided to leave home and never come back. He, 
therefore, went to his father and asked if he might 
have his share of the money. His father gave him 
half of all he had, keeping the other half for his 
older brother. 

After a few days the younger son started away 
and travelled a long, long distance. Finally he came 
to a large city and there he made some friends. 
They were rough, bad young men who only cared for 
him because he was rich. They helped him spend a 
great deal of the money his father had given him 
on rich food, line clothes and other things. At last 

242 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

almost all of his money was gone and then these 
other young men who had been so friendly left 
him, when they found he could give them nothing 
more. 




There had not been any rain in that country for a 
long time, so nothing had grown and it became very 
hard to get food. The young man had so little 
money he couldn't buy much to eat and he was often 
He had never learned to work but now he 



hungry 



243 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

tried to find something to do. The people in the city 
knew how wicked he had been and would not employ 
him, so he was obliged to walk a long distance. At 
last he came to a little town where he asked a man 
for work. He was very hungry as he had had little 
to eat for some time and his clothes were quite 
shabby. The man looked at him and then asked 
him if he would take care of his pigs. The poor 
young man was glad to get even that to do, and 
as he watched the pigs, he wished he might have 
some of their food, he was so hungry. 

He took care of the pigs for quite a long time but 
was still very poor, for of course he wasn't paid 
much money for such work as that. He kept think- 
ing of his beautiful home, of his happy life there, 
and how very, very wrong it had been for him to go 
away and spend all the money his father had given 
him in foolish and wicked ways. He was ashamed 
to go back to his father but he so wished he might 
be at home again. 

One morning, as he was thinking about these 
things, he said to himself: "Even my father's ser- 
vants have more food than they can eat and here am 
I so far away, almost dying of hunger. I will arise 
and go to my father and I will say unto him, 
'Father, I have done very wrong and am not good 
enough to be your son any more, but won't you let 
me be your servant ?' " So he started for his home. 

Now all the time he had been gone, his father 
had grieved, for he loved his son dearly and longed 
for him to come back. At last when he stayed 

244 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

away so long, he feared he was dead and that he 
should never see him again. 

One day as he was walking a little way from 
home, he looked down the road and thought he saw 
his lost son. He could hardly believe his eyes, but 
he looked again and saw that it was really his boy. 
Then he ran toward him, tears of joy streaming 
from his eyes, threw his arms about him and kissed 
him, saying, "My son, my son !" 

The boy, who was thin and pale, ragged and dirty, 
said: ''Father, I have done so wrong that I am not 
good enough to be your son any more — " 

But his father would not let him finish speaking ; 
instead he called to the servants and said: "Bring 
out the best clothes you can find and put them on my 
son. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 
Then invite all our friends to come and be glad with 
us, for my dear son, who was lost and whom I 
thought dead, is alive, and has come home again.'' 



245 



SUBJECT— JESUS AND THE CHILDREN. 

Mark 10:13-16. 
Picture— CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN— 

HOFMANN. 

Songs— "I THINK WHEN I READ THAT SWEET STORY," 

i^From '■'■Songs and Hymns for the Primary Sunday School,'' page JO.) 

AND "SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN"— HousTisD. Hewitt 

[From ^^ Choice Sacred Solos,'' edited by Olit'er Ditson Company. 
This to be sung to the children. \ 



STORY. 

Last Sunday, children, you know that we had 
one of dear Jesus' beautiful stories about the father 
who loved his son and was so glad to ha^x him come 
home again, even though he had wandered away and 
done wrong. 

Jesus, also, loves all His children and to-day I 
want to tell you a story about His love for the little 
ones. In the country where his home was, there 
lived a dear mother and father and their four chil- 
dren. The mother's name was Hannah and she 
loved Jesus and had often heard Him tell His beauti- 
ful stories when He came near her home. 

One morning she said to her husband : "I had 
such a beautiful dream last night. I thought that 
you and I were going to heaven and we had all the 
dear children wiih us. We saw no one we knew, 
but just as we were wondering which was the right 

246 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



way to go, Jesus came toward lis. He took baby 
Esther in His arms, put His hands lovingly upon 
the other children and said, 'I will lead you to 
heaven.' As we were all going with Him, I awoke. 




Now, dear, I can have a part of my beautiful dream 
come true by taking the children to Jesus for Him 
to bless." 

Her husband replied : "Don't you think you 
might trouble the dear Master, Hannah ? His days 

247 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

are very full as there are so many sick for Him to 
heal, so many in trouble for Him to comfort and He 
has so many wonderful lessons to teach the people. 
Do you think He would have time to give to the chil- 
dren?" 

The dear mother answered : " Yes, I think He 
would like me to bring them, for I know how much 
He loves the little ones." 

"Well, you might go, dear," said the father, ''but 
if Jesus seems busy, I would not trouble him." 

So Hannah started, taking with her little Rachel, 
the boys, Samuel and John, and dear little baby 
Esther. As she walked on, she met some friends 
and when she told them where she was going, they 
decided to take their children, also, for Jesus to 
bless. 

After a time they saw many, many people ahead 
of them and they felt sure Jesus would be among 
them. It was hard to get through the crowds, but 
slowly they pushed their waj^ until at last they could 
see the kind, loving face of the Master, as He talked 
to the people. 

Near Him stood His disciples, the men who loved 
Him and followed Him everywhere. As they saw 
Hannah and the other mothers, they asked, ''What do 
you want?" 

Hannah replied, "We are bringing our little chil- 
dren to Jesus that He may bless them." 

The disciples said : "What nonsense ! Can't you 

see how busy He is. He has grown people to teach 

and to heal and do you think that He can be troubled 

248 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



with children? Take them right home where the}^ 
belong." 

In those days people did not love little children 
quite so much as they do now and I am sure the 
disciples really thought that Jesus would not wish to 
take time to have them brought to Him. But even 
though they had been with Him for so long a time, 
they did not yet know how loving and tender He 
was. Hannah and the other mothers turned away, 
greatly disappointed that they must take the chil- 
dren home without Jesus' blessing. But He heard 
the disciples speaking and He said to them : "It is 
you who are making a great mistake in sending 
these mothers away. They do just right when they 
bring their little ones to me, for I love all children." 

Oh, how glad Hannah and the other mothers were 
to come closer to Him ! He reached down and lifted 
dear little Esther in His arms and as He held her 
close. He laid His hand on Rachel's head and said: 
"Suffer the little children to come unto me and for- 
bid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." 

Then He said that all grown people must learn 
to be as sweet and pure and loving as these little 
children, if they would please the heavenly Father 
and be ready to live with Him in heaven. 

When He had blessed each little child, the happy 
mothers turned homeward, and all their lives the 
story their children loved best to hear was the one of 
the wonderful day when Jesus "took them up in His 
arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them." 



249 



SUBJECT— CHRIST IN ZACCHAEUS' 
HOUSE. 

Luke ig :i-io. 
Picture— THE MARRIAGE FEAST— Paolo Veronese. 



STORY. 



Children, did you know that Jesus wished to help 
bad people to be good, just as He longed to make all 
the sick ones well again ? To-day I want to tell you 
of a man whom He helped to be honest and kind. 

The man's name was Zacchseus. (I wonder if 
you can remember such a strange name as that. 
Would you like to say it after me?) He lived in a 
beautiful city called Jericho which had high walls 
around it. 

In the city was a great palace with splendid gar- 
dens, where the king sometimes lived. There were 
gardens about all the houses, filled with roses, and 
so many beautiful, feathery palm trees that Jericho 
was called the ''City of Palms." Springs of water 
kept everything so fresh and green that the whole 
place looked like fairyland. A few miles away was 
the Jordan River, where John had baptized Jesus, 
and beyond this rose the great mountains. 

Many people were in the city ; soldiers, traders, 
(those who came to buy and sell) priests, who 
helped in the churches, travellers and even wicked 
robbers. 

250 



KINDERGAR TEN STORIES 

One day Jesus had to pass through Jericho. You 
know that He had helped so many people that great 
crowds followed Him wherever He went. When 
those who lived in Jericho were told that He was 
coming, they hurried out to meet Him. Perhaps 




they had heard of the wonderful things He had done 
for others and hoped He would help them, too. 
Dear mothers brought their babies for Him to bless, 
sick people came to be made well and others wished 
just to see Jesus and hear Him speak. 

One of those who wanted to see Him was Zac- 
ch2eus. He had not been a good man, as he had 
taken money that was not his and had done other 
wicked things, but perhaps he wanted to be better 
and hoped Jesus would help him. The people in 

251 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Jericho did not like Zacchseus, as they knew how 
bad he was. He was very short, not much bigger 
than a young boy, and when he tried to get through 
the crowds, people pushed him back. He wasn't tall 
enough to look over the heads of those about him, so 
what do you think he did ? He climbed a great tree 
near his home, which was right on the street that 
he knew Jesus would take. Now he could see nicely 
and he thought no one would notice him. 

After awhile Jesus came near, walking slowly be- 
cause the streets were so crowded. The people 
wondered where He would stay while He was in 
Jericho. "Surely He will visit some great man," 
they said ; "probably He will go to the home of some 
priest, or minister." 

As Jesus went along, He often stopped to put His 
loving hand on a little child's head, or to touch and 
make well a blind or lame man. When He passed 
under the branches of the great tree which Zacchseus 
had climbed, He looked up and smiling kindly at the 
little man. He said : "Come down, Zacchseus, I want 
to go to your house." 

Zacchffius could hardly believe what he heard. 
Was it possible that Jesus would visit him, a bad 
man with whom many people would have nothing 
to do ! He hurried down from the tree and led Jesus 
to his home, so happy he could not speak. 

But when the crowds saw where Jesus was going, 
they, too, were astonished. They cried out: "Can 
Jesus be willing to enter Zacchseus' house ! Does 
He know what a bad man he is ?" 

252 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Zacchseus had a large home as he was a rich man 
and I am sure he gave Jesus his best room and did 
all he could to make Him comfortable while He 
visited him. 

And, children, Zacchseus did even more than this. 
He gave a great feast for Jesus and all His friends 
and while they were at the table, he arose before 
them all and said to Jesus : "Lord, I have been a 
wicked man ; I have cheated people and taken money 
that did not belong to me, but I am very sorry and 
I am going to try to be better. I will give every one 
that I have cheated four times as much as I took 
from him and then I will give half of everything T 
have left to poor people." 

This made Jesus very happy and He said : "This 
is one of my dear children and I came into his home 
that I might help him to be good, for it is the bad, 
sinful people whom I always long to make better." 

(The picture can be shown as representing the 
feast which Zacchseus gave to Jesus.) 



253 



SUBJECT— THE FRIENDS OF JESUS. 

John 12:1-8; Mark i^:j-g. 
Picture— BETHANY— HoFMANN. 

Song— "LOVING AND GIVING," last verse. 
i^From '■'■Song and Study for God's Little Ones,'' P^Z^ 36. ) 



STORY. 



I want to tell you to-day, children, of some 
friends of Jesus whom He often visited and whom 
He loved very dearly. They were two sisters named 
A/fary and Martha, and a brother whose name was 
Lazarus. They had a pleasant home in Bethany, a 
pretty little town near Jerusalem, and Jesus often 
stopped there and spent the night when He went to 
the great city. They loved to have Him come and 
would do everything they could to make Him com- 
fortable and happy. Martha would bring Him 
fruit and refreshing drink, as you see her doing in 
the picture, while Mary, who was very gentle and 
loving, would take a low stool at His feet and, look- 
ing up into His kind face, listen to all that He said. 

One time a great sorrow came to these two sisters, 
for Lazarus, their only brother, was taken very sick. 
Thev sent this message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom 
Thou lovest is sick." They knew how dear Lazarus 
was to Jesus and they felt sure He would come and 
make him well. And, children, Jesus did come and 
Lazarus was made well and strong again and then 

254 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

the dear sisters loved Jesus even more than they 
had done before. 

You remember that I told you last Sunday of 
Zacchseus whom Jesus visited and helped to be a 




better man. After leaving his home, Jesus came to 
Bethany where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived. 
He w^as glad to reach their home for He was weary 
and it always rested Him to be with such loving 
friends as they were. 

255 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

The day after he arrived a party was made for 
Him and Martha helped wait upon the table, as she 
wanted to serve Jesus in every way she could. Mary, 
too, longed to show how much she loved Him 
and she wondered what she could do. She re- 
membered a beautiful little marble vase she had that 
cost a great deal of money. It was filled with per- 
fume and to get this out, the vase had to be broken. 
Mary thought : ''That is the most precious thing I 
have and perhaps it will be good enough to give to 
Jesus." 

She went to get it and brought it back to the 
dining-room where all the guests were seated at the 
table. Their ieet were bare, for, as I have told you, 
in those days each one took off his shoes, or sandals, 
when he entered the house. 

Mary went softly toward Jesus and when she 
reached Him, she broke her lovely vase and put some 
of the perfume on His head and then poured all the 
rest over His feet. The delicious odor filled the 
room and every one looked up to see from whence it 
came. Usually only a few drops of such precious 
perfume were used, so they were all surprised to 
see that Mary had emptied her whole vase. One of 
the guests said : "How wasteful Mary is ! She could 
have sold this perfume for a great deal of money 
and then helped many poor people." 

But Jesus said : ''Do not blame her, she has done 
well, for she has given me the most precious thing 
she had to show how much she loved me." 

256 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

And, children, I think that Jesus wants us to re- 
member not only to help poor people whenever we 
can, but also to make our dear friends happy. 

He said that whoever heard of Him, would hear, 
also, of this beautiful thing that Mary had done for 
Him. Don't you think it made her very happy to 
have Jesus pleased with her gift? 



2.S7 



SUBJECT— CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM. 

Picture— ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM— Plockhorst. 

Luke ig :2g-j8 ; Matt. 21 :8, g, i^. 

Songs— "THE CHILDREN'S HOSANNA!" 

{^From ^^ Songs for Kindergarten and Primary JVorkers,^^ Margare 

Coote Broivn, page 6. ) 

AND "PALM BRANCHES"— J. Faure. 

( This to be sung to the children. \ 



STORY. 



Many weeks ago I told you, children, of the first 
journey Jesus took to Jerusalem. He was a little 
boy then, just twelve years old, and He went with his 
father and mother to see the beautiful Temple. 
Would you like to hear to-day of another journey 
He made to this same city ? 

I told you last Sunday of the supper at Bethany, 
when Mary poured the precious perfume on Jesus' 
feet. The next morning Jesus asked two of His 
disciples to go on an errand. I think perhaps they 
were Peter, who was so ready to do things for Him, 
and John, who loved Him best of all. Jesus told 
them to go to a little tov/n not far away where they 
would find a colt that no one had ever ridden, tied 
near a house. "Untie the colt," said Jesus, "and 
bring him to me, and if any one asks you why you 
do this, just say that I need him." 

Peter and John were surprised, for it seemed 
strange that Jesus should know just where the colt 

258 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

would be. Then, too, they wondered if the man who 
owned him would be willing to let them take him. 
But they went quickly on their errand, for they 
loved to do things for Jesus. 

When they came to the little town there was the 
colt tied near his mother, just as Jesus said he would 










be. As they were untying him, a man said, "What 
are you doing with that colt?" 

Peter replied, "Jesus needs him." 

"Oh, very well," said the man, "you may take 
him." 

The disciples led the colt to Jesus and then they 
put their cloaks upon him to make a comfortable 
seat. I do not know that Jesus had ever ridden be- 
fore except when, as a little baby, He had been taken 

259 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

into Egypt in His mother's arms. Usually He 
walked or went on the lake in the little fishing" boats. 
But on this day of which I am telling you He 
mounted and rode slowly along, John leading the 
colt by his bridle. He was dressed all in white, 
His head was bare and the sunlight fell softly upon 
His long hair, making a bright light about His 
gentle, loving face. 

Do you think He rode alone, children? Oh no, 
the crowds which were with Him when He visited 
Zacchseus, had still follow^ed Him. As He rode 
along, they broke off branches from the trees and 
threw them in the road and they even took off their 
long cloaks and spread them down that He might 
ride over them, for a king should always ride on a 
carpet, so they tried thus to make one for Jesus. 
They were all so happy to be with Him that they 
shouted and sang, "Hosanna ! Hosanna ! Blessed be 
our King !" 

Then, children, they sang a song which was like 
that of the angels when Christ was born, "Peace in 
heaven and glory in the highest." 

Meantime the people in Jerusalem had heard that 
Jesus was coming and they went out to meet Him. 
The}^ broke the long, graceful palm branches from 
the trees and waved them, to show their joy, and 
when they met Jesus, they, too, joined in the glad 
cry, "Hosanna ! Hosanna !" 

I wish, children, we might have been with them.. 
Wouldn't you like to have seen all the crowds of 
people, old m^en and young men in their bright 
colored garments, motiiers with their babies and 

260 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



little children dancing and scattering flowers before 
Jesus and all shouting, "Hosanna! Hosanna !" to 
show how glad they w^ere. But most of all I know 
that you and I would like to have seen Jesus, Him- 
self. I feel sure it made Him happy to see how 
much the people loved Him. He had done so much 
for them, and often He had been sad and weary 
because their sorrows had troubled Him, but to-day 
I think He was glad in their joy. 

When He came to Jerusalem, He saw the wonder- 
ful Temple with its roof of gold and its beautiful 
marble walls. He loved it because it was His 
heavenly Father's house. He left the colt and went 
inside and there, too, the children crowded about 
Him, w"aving their palm branches and singing, 
''Hosanna ! Hosanna !" Wouldn't you like to have 
sung it with them ? 



261 



SUBJECT— THE WIDOW'S MITE. 

Ma?-k 12:4.1-^4. 
Picture— THE WIDOW'S MITE— Dore. 

Song— "DROPPING PENNIES." 

{From '■'■Song and Study for God' s Little Ones,'' p^g^ ?/•) 



STORY. 



Children, do you remember who gave something 
to Jesus in the story I told you two weeks ago ? Yes, 
Mary. Can you tell me what her gift was? The 
sweet perfume. And do you remember why she 
gave it? Because she loved Jesus. 

To-day I wish to tell you of another woman who 
also gave something. You remember the journey 
Jesus took to Jerusalem, of which you heard last 
Sunday, when all the people waved palm branches 
and shouted, "Hosanna !" because they were so 
glad to have Him with them. When He reached the 
beautiful Temple, He stayed a long time healing 
the sick and talking to those who were gathered 
about Him. 

At last He started to leave, but as He was passing 
through one of the courts, or halls. He sat down 
for a moment to rest. He was very weary, as He 
had had a busy day. Opposite where He sat was a 
box into which people put the money they wished 
to give to the Lord. 

262 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

As Jesus sat watching, many dropped money into 
the box as they passed by. Some were rich men 
who took out their gold pieces and held them so 
every one could see how much they gave. Then 




they listened to hear what a loud ring their money 
made, as it fell into the box, and they hoped that 
everbody would think they were very good to give 
so much. 

263 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Among the others came a poor woman and I want 
to tell you a little about her. Her husband was 
dead and she had to work very hard to oret food 
to eat and clothes to wear, but she kept wishing she 
had something to giye to the Lord. One night she 
decided she could go without her supper and save 
the money it would cost. Then perhaps she went to 
bed in the dark and made her little candle last 
longer. I am sure she did some very hard things 
before she could save even a little money. 

But at last she had some to give, so she came this 
morning when Jesus was watching, went very 
quietly up to the box and dropped in two tiny pieces 
of money; both of which wouldn't make one of our 
pennies. If any one had noticed her, I think they 
would have said, "How^ little she gave." 

But Jesus called His disciples to Him and asked : 
"Did you see that woman? She has really given 
more than all those rich men." 

The disciples were much surprised, for they had 
noticed what tiny pieces of money the poor woman 
had put in the box and they had seen all the gold 
the rich men had brought. 

Jesus said: ''The rich men gave money that they 
did not need ; they did not have to work any harder, 
nor go without anything they wanted, to give it. 
But this poor woman gave all she had ; she has 
worked and really suffered to bring this gift to God." 

How mau}^ of you, children, earn the pennies you 
bring to Sunday School ? I am glad some of you 
do this. Can you tell me what you do to earn them ? 

264 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

(Draw out answers from different ones.) How 
many just ask papa or mamma to give you a penny 
to bring? Well, wouldn't you all like to earn your 
pennies this week ? I think Jesus would be pleased 
if you did this and I'm sure papa and mamma would 
help you think of some way you could do it. Next 
Sunday I shall be so glad to hear what you have 
done. 



265 



SUBJECT— THE KIND MOTHER HEN, 

Matthew 2j :jy. 

Picture— TWO MOTHERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES — Elizabeth Gardner. 



STORY. 



One time, children dear, Jesus wanted to tell those 
about Him how tenderly He loved them. He 
thought, ''How can I make them know how great 
my love is ?" 

Just then I think He happened to see a mother 
hen clucking to her chickens, who ran quickly to 
her and cuddled under her wings. Jesus watched 
her a moment and then He said: ''I love you all 
just as that hen loves her chickens and I wish I 
might gather you closely about me, just as she 
gathers her little ones under her wings." 

Would you like to hear to-day a "really truly" 
story''^ I read once of a mother hen who was loving 
and kind not only to her own chickens, but to some 
birdies, also? 

Once upon a time, away across the ocean, in a 
country called England, a strange sound was heard 
in the stable which stood near a farmhouse. 

"Peep, peep ! Peep, peep !" piped four little voices, 
as four little chicks scrambled out of their shells and 

♦"Henry Peony's Starline"s." Founded on fact. By Mary Senior 
Clark. From "Hand and Eye.'' 

266 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

looked out into the world for the first time in their 
little lives. 

"Click-a-clucky !" said Mother Speckle (who was 
so called because little brown spots were speckled all 




over her white feathers), "so here you are at last. 
What, are there no more than four of you? Well, 
well, I am glad you are come ! But cuddle in, cud- 
dle in, my dears ; it is a cold world just now for 
babies like you/" 

267 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Speckle sat in the stable, snuggled in among the 
straw ; but outside the frost was hard, and the 
ground was covered with snow. 

"Alother," cried little Ben, numing into the farm- 
house kitchen, ''Speckle has some chickens. I know 
she has, for I went into the stable just now to see 
whether Brown Bess had hay enough, and I heard 
them cry, 'Peep, peep !' " 

"Thank you, Ben," said his mother; "then we will 
carr}/ them some groats and warm milk for their 
supper ; they will need something to keep out the 
cold, for there is going to be a bitter frost to-night." 

"Polly go, too ! Polly go, too !" cried Ben's little 
sister, pulling at her mother's skirts. 

"Yes," said her mother, "Polly shall go, too; but 
she must come and let mother wrap her up warm, 
for it is so cold." 

Out in the yard the rooster was walking about, 
looking much disgusted with things in general, and 
lifting his feet very high out of the snow. The hens 
cowered in the barn doorway and watched the 
rooster, grumbling every now and then to one an- 
other : "How cold it is ! I don't like the snow. I 
do wish it would go away !" 

On the cow-house roof sat six starlings,* as close 
together as they could sit, not chattering together 
as starlings usually do, but silent and sad. The 
farm boy came by, and set down in the yard a tin 
pan full of water, taking away the one already there, 
which was now filled with a solid block of ice. At 
sight of the water the starlings moved a little, and 

*Birds very common about Engrlish barns and dweUingrs. 

268 



KINDERGAR TEN STORIES 

one of them flew down, alighting close to the tin 
pan. 

"Crrrrr! Get away," said the rooster; "this water 
is mine !" 

"Yes, my lord," said the starling, "but we are 
hungry and thirsty; let us take a little." 

"Go away! You don't belong here," said the 
rooster. 

"No, my lord," said the starling, "we are come 
here from our home because the water is all turned 
to stone, and the earth is turned to stone, also, and 
the snow is over everything, and we can find neither 
food nor drink." 

"Go somewhere else," said the rooster; "this water 
is for me and my hens. Crrrrr !" 

The starling flew back to the cow-house roof, and 
at that moment the mother and her children crossed 
the yard, carrying Speckle's supper of groats and 
warm milk. 

"How good it smells!" said the starlings; and 
they flew a little nearer. 

"Oh, mother !"said Ben, in the stable, "Speckle has 
only four chicks and last time she had thirteen." 

"That is because of the cold," said his mother. 
"The frost has chilled all the rest. Come, we must 
make haste back; it is time to take the bread out of 
the oven." 

As soon as she and the children had gone. Speckle 
began her supper. "Cluck, cluck, cluck," she said. 
"Come and eat chickies ! come and eat ! Good sup- 
per, nice warm milk. Cluck, cluck, cluck! pick it 

269 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

up/' and she caught up some httle bits and flung 
them down, clucking and calUng. 

The Httle chickens did pick up some, but they were 
too young to care to eat much as yet, and they were 
soon glad to creep under her warm feathers again 
and cuddle cosily in. 

Then Speckle was aware of some dark objects 
moving on the stable floor. Was it mice? She 
looked up ; no, it was starlings. 

''Dear me," she said, "I never saw starlings come 
in like this before." 

The starlings crept closer. ''O great hen," said 
they, "may we drink from your saucer? We are 
hungry and thirsty. The water is all turned to stone, 
the earth is stone, also, and we can find neither food 
nor drink." 

''Dear, dear, dear !" said Speckle, "come here, 
then ; eat and drink." 

The starlings did not need to be invited twice. In 
an instant six little dark heads were around the 
saucer of milk, and soon there was not a drop nor 
a crumb remaining. 

Speckle watched them. "Why, you poor things," 
she said, "you are so stiff with cold that you can 
hardly walk or fly. Come here under my wings and 
I will keep you warm. Come, there is room for all." 

Speckle spread out her kind, motherly wings, and 
the starlings crept joyfully beneath them. Oh, how 
warm and soft and nice it was there ! V^ery soon 
they were fast asleep, chickens and starlings and 
Speckle and all. 

270 



KIND E'R GARTEN STORIES 

The mother was busy the next morning, and she 
sent Meg, the maid, to the stable with Speckle's 
breakfast. Little Polly went with her, that she 
might have another look at the dear, little, round, 
white, fluffy chicks, but very soon she came flying 
back to the kitchen. "Mamma, Mamma," she cried, 
''come and look ! Speckle has a lot more chickens, so 
big and so black ! Come and see !" 

Lots of chickens? Big and black? — what could 
that mean? Polly's mother ran to the stable, and 
when she saw Speckle and the chickens and the 
starlings, all breakfasting there together, she cried, 
"Well, well, well!" several times over, and called 
papa to come and look. "Wouldn't you say the hen 
understood all about the frost," she said, "and how 
hard the poor birds find it to get a living? 1, too, 
will help them." 

So she went in and mixed a bowl of the oatmeal 
on which she fed her poultry, and put it outside, — 
not in the yard where the hens and ducks might gKtt 
it, but in the front garden, and she put a pan of 
water with it, and other starlings came to it, and 
blackbirds and robins, and little tomtits with their 
funny spectacled faces. 

When the starlings had had their breakfast with 
Speckle, they flew away for the day, but at supper 
time there they were again, and when they had fin- 
ished, they stood and looked at her, as if to say, 
"May we?" 

"Come, then," said Speckle, spreading out her 
wings. 

271 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

"Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep! But they must not 
take our places," cried the four httle chicks. 

"Pop in quickly and choose your own places, 
then," said Speckle, "and you will be all right." 

So the little chicks bustled under in a great hurry, 
and cuddled in beneath her soft, downy breast ; and 
then came the starlings and cuddled in also. Ben 
and Polly, who were looking on, laughed to see how 
fast the chickens ran to make sure of getting the 
places the}^ liked best. 

Every night as long as the frost lasted, the six 
starlings came to the stable and shared the supper 
and breakfast, and slept warm and cosy beneath 
Speckle's kind wings. The mother took care that 
they had a plentiful meal, and when any visitors 
came to the farm at supper time she always took 
them out to the stable and showed them Speckle's 
starlings. 

At last the snow melted, the waters flowed again, 
and the earth was no longer a stone. Then the 
starlings came to Speckle and said : "Good-bye, 
good, kind Speckle, we are going to our homes now, 
and soon we shall be building nests of our own ; but 
if ever earth and water should turn to stone again, 
we shall come back to 3'ou." 

Away flew the starlings to the woods and fields, 
and built nests and laid eggs and reared little ones 
of their own, and when the nestlings grew fidgety 
and would not keep quiet unless they were told a 
story, the one they always liked best to hear was the 
story of that terrible time of cold, when earth and 

272 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

water turned to stone, and snow covered all the land ; 
and how kind Speckle took pity on them, and gave 
them food and warmth and shelter. 

In the picture you can see Polly and her mother 
watching- Speckle and some other little chickens 
that she had the next summer. 



^7^ 



SUBJECT— THE WISE PANSY. 

Matthew 2^ :i^-2g. 
Picture — PANSIES. 

Song— "THE DAISY"— (Change Daisy to Pansy) 
(^From ^^ Childhood SongSy'^ page /o/.) 

OR "MY HEART IS GOD'S LITTLE GARDEN.' 

(From ^^Songsjor Little Children,'^ 'volume 2^ p^Z^ 2.\ 



STORY. 



(This story can be used as a symbolic illustration 
of Matthew 25:14-29, or in connection with the 
spring thought when Jesus' love of flowers is men- 
tioned. If told in the spring, introduce thus :) 

Children, how many of you have flower gardens? 
What flowers have you in yours ? And you ? And 
you ? Do you know that we have another garden, 
also, — every one of us? Where do you suppose it 
i3 ? Your heart is a little garden and it belongs to 
the dear heavenly Father. Would you like to learn 
a song about it ? 

"My heart is God's little garden, 

And the flowers growing there every day, 
Are the things He shall see me doing, 
And the words He shall hear me sav." 



To-day I want to tell you a story about a king's 
irden. It is one I he; 
not know who wrote it. 



garden. It is one I heard sometime ago and I do 



274 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a 
wise and good king who loved his people and tried 
to make them happy. He liked to travel through all 




parts of his kingdom and he had kind words for 
every one he met. 

All his people loved him and to show their love 
they built beautiful palaces for him in different parts 
of his kingdom. Those living upon the mountains 
built a palace for him high up on the mountains, and 

275 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

those living in the vaUeys buik one for him nestled 
down at the foot of the great hills, until at last his 
palaces were scattered all over the land. 

There was one palace in which he spent more time 
than in any of the others and he loved it best be- 
cause it stood in the midst of a beautiful garden 
filled with trees, vines and flowers which had been 
planted for him. He would often walk in this 
garden or sit in the shade of the trees. 

One morning he went out as usual to walk there 
and as he stopped to admire a beautiful vine, what 
was his surprise to see it drooping and withered ! 
In his disappointment and grief, he cried out : "Oh, 
my lovely vine, what has happened to you ?" 

The vine answered: "Dear King, it is so little 
I can do for you that I am discouraged. I cannot 
blossom like the rose, nor grow tall like the tree. I 
can only cling here in this feeble way and so I 
thought I didn't wish to live any longer." 

The king said nothing, but passed on and soon he 
came to a rose bush which only the day before he 
had found covered with fragrant roses. As he now 
stopped to pick one, lo ! it fell to pieces in his hand. 
After gazing a moment in surprise, he said, "My 
lovely rose, are you, too, drooping?" 

The rose raised her head and said timidly : "Yes, 
my King, I wanted to do something for you and I 
tried so hard to grow tall like the tree, but I could 
not. I could only be a rose and so I gave up trying 
to please you." 

Again the king bowed his head and passed on. 
Next he came to a tree which had for a long time 

276 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

been his pride and joy. When he saw that it, too, 
was drooping, he cried aloud in his grief, "Oh, my 
tree, my pride, are you, also, dying?" 

The tree said: "Yes, O King, I do so little for 
you. I cannot blossom like the rose and I take up 
so much room in the garden that I thought I would 
give my place to some one who could serve you 
better." 

The king, now sad at heart, turned to go to the 
palace and as he walked along with bowed head, 
he saw something fresh and bright at his feet. As 
he looked again, a little pansy lifted her head and 
turned her shining face toward him. "Oh, my 
dear little pansy," said the king, "you are still here 
as bright and beautiful as ever !" 

"Yes, O King," replied the pansy, "I heard the 
vine, the rose and the tree talking and I wondered 
what / could do to please you. But, as I thought 
about it, I decided that when you planted a vine, you 
wanted just a vine, and when you planted a rose, 
it was a rose you wished, and when you planted me, 
you wanted just a pansy, so I'm going to try to be 
the sweetest, dearest little pans}/- that I can." 



277 



SUBJECT— THE TALENTS. 

Matthew 2^ :i^-2g. 

Picture— THE PET BIRD -Meyer Von Bremen. 

Song— "BLESSINGS ON EFFORT." 

[From '■'■Song Stories fa?- the Kindergarten' — M. J. and P. S. Hill, page 
26; also in '■'Song Stories for the Sunday School,'" Misses Hill, page 8. ) 



STORY. 



I want to tell you to-day, children, a story which 
I think \N\\\ help you understand one of the beauti- 
ful ones Jesus told to His disciples. Sometime, 
when you are older, I hope you will read Jesus' own 
story in the Bible. 

Once there was a man who had four children 
whom he loved very dearly. The oldest was a boy 
named Will and he was such a dear brother that the 
other children were always very happy to be with 
him. Then there were two girls, Susie and Dora, 
and a little brother, John. 

One spring- their father had to leave his home and 
take a long journey that would keep him away all 
summer. Before leaving, he wished to have a little 
talk with his children. He found them in the dining- 
room playing with their canary bird, which was so 
tame that, as you can see in the picture, it stood on 
Will's finger while it pecked at a lump of sugar. 
The children were so interested watching the birdie 

278 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

that their father had to speak twice before they heard 
him. Then they crowded about him while he told 
them his plan. 




He said he wished to give to each of them some 
money and while he was away they might see what 
they could do with it. To Will, he gave fifty cents ; 
to Susie, twenty-five ; to Dora, ten ; and to little John, 
five cents. He then bade them good-bye and started 
on his journey. The children were all so pleased 

279 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

with his gifts and at once began to plan how they 
would spend their money. 

Will decided he would have a vegetable garden, 
so he asked his mother for a part of their yard, 
which she willingly gave him. He prepared the 
ground very carefully and then planted the seeds 
which he had bought with his fifty cents. There 
were radishes, peas, beans, beets and other vege- 
tables. Every day he worked in his garden, water- 
ing and weeding it and keeping it free from bugs. 

After awhile the little green plants appeared and 
how happy Will was ! He watched them grow 
larger and larger and at last he could pick the let- 
tuce, radishes and other vegetables. Some he sold 
to mamma, who was glad to buy of him instead of 
the grocer, and others he sold to their neighbors. 
When the summer was over, he found he had a 
whole dollar; just twice as much money as his papa 
had given him. 

Meanwhile Susie, too, had been busy. She took 
her twenty-five cents to mamma and asked what she 
could do with it. Mamma suggested that she needed 
some dish towels and would be glad to buy them of 
her little girl. Susie went with mamma to a store 
and bought some cloth and then sewed very faith- 
fully, day after day, tmtil she had made five towels. 
Mamma paid her ten cents for each one, so she had 
fifty cents, twice as much as her papa had given her. 

Dear little John didn't know what to do with his 
five cents, but his brother Will ofifered to help him 
make a little flower garden. 'Twas a cunning little 
bed and in it he planted some pansy seeds which he 

280 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

had bought with his money. He waited and waited 
and then one morning he dug down in the earth to 
see if the seeds were going to grow ! He was such 
a Httle fellow it was hard for him to be patient and 
wait. But Brother Will covered the seeds carefully 
again and told him they must be left dark and quiet. 

After awhile tiny green plants really could be seen 
and later lovely pansies blossomed on them. John 
w^as the happiest little boy you could find. He picked 
the pretty flowers and made them into tiny bouquets 
which he sold for a penny apiece. Before the sum- 
mer was over he had ten pennies, so he, too, had 
twice as much money as his papa had given him. 

But Dora, instead of trying to make more money 
with her ten cent piece, decided she would just keep 
it carefully, so she put the pretty silver dime away 
in a safe place. 

When papa returned in the fall, the children ran 
to meet him, saying again and again how glad they 
were to have him back. He soon asked what they 
had done with their money. Will, to whom he 
turned first, told of his vegetables ; of the care he 
had taken to prepare the ground, to plant the seeds 
and water and weed the beds, so the plants would 
grow. He then showed, instead of the fifty cents 
given him, a new dollar bill. 

''Well done, my son," said his father, "you have 
shown that you know how to use money, so I shall 
give you more." 

Then Susie told of the cloth she had bought, from 
which she had made towels, and showed the fifty 
cents mamma had given her for them. 

281 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

"Well done, my daughter," said papa, ''you, too, 
have spent your money wisely and can be trusted 
with more/' 

Lvittle John now showed his ten pennies and said : 
*'See, Papa, I bought some pansy seeds and I waited 
and waited for them to grow and at last they did and 
had pretty flowers and I picked them and made some 
bouquets and people gave me all these pennies for 
them." The little fellow was so eager to tell of his 
work that he talked so fast papa could hardly under- 
stand him. 

Papa smiled and said : "Well done, my little boy, 
you were not too small to know what to do with 
your pennies and you, too, shall have others to 
spend." 

Meantime Dora had hung back, but now papa 
turned to her, saying, "Well, Dora, what did you do 
with your money ?" 

"Oh, Papa," she said, "I thought it was such a 
little piece you had given me — just ten cents — that 
it was too small to do anything with it, so I put it 
away carefully in this little box in my drawer and 
here it is." 

Her father looked grieved as she gave him^ the 
money, and said: "I am sorry, my little girl, you 
have not learned that much can be done with even 
little things. As you did not use your money, I 
must take it away and give it to Will, who I am 
sure can spend it wisely. Perhaps some other time 
I will give you another chance." 



282 



SUBJECT— THE LEAST OF THESE. 

Matthew 2^ .-/o. 
Picture - GIOVANNI— DoLci. 

Song— "SERVING THE KING," -fifth and sixth verses. 
(^From '■'■Song and Study for God's Little Ones ^'^ page 106.) 



STORY. 



(Adapted from Longfellow's "The Legend Beau- 
tiful.") 

Jesus once told a story, children, to show how 
those who loved Him could still work for Him, even 
after He went back to heaven. He said that if one 
should see a poor person hungry and give him food, 
or thirsty and give him drink, or ragged and give 
him clothing, or sick and care for him, it would be 
just the same as if these things were done to Him- 
self. I want to read you Jesus' own words : ''Inas- 
nmch as you have done these things to one of the 
least" (or poorest) ''of these, my brethren" (He 
calls poor people His brothers and sisters), 'you 
have done them to me." Isn't it beautiful to think 
that by doing kind acts to poor people, we are really 
doing them to Jesus, Himself? 

Jesus said, also, children, that if one did not do 
helpful things — such as feeding those who were 
hungry, clothing those who were ragged, and caring 
for those who were sick — it was the same as if He 

283 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

had been left to suffer. Jesus' own story I am sure 
you will like to read when you are older, but to-day 
I want to tell you a beautiful one which Longfellow 
wrote. 




Many years ago in a country far away from here, 
men who wished to please God used sometimes to 
gCLa.way by themselves and live in a great building, 
called a monastery. These men were called monks 
and they spent their time praying to God and doing 

284 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

kind, helpful things for people. They lived in tiny 
little rooms, called cells, ate simple food and wore 
coarse clothes, so as to have more money to give 
away. 

One of these monks was alone one noontime in his 
cell. He knelt down on the cold stone floor and 
prayed, asking God to forgive him for all he had 
done that was wrong and to help him to be more 
loving and kind. 

Suddenly the little cell became as bright as if 
lightning had flashed in the sky and a Vision of 
Christ appeared in the room. A bright light shone 
about Him and He smiled upon the Monk. He 
looked just as He did when He lived on earth and 
went about healing the lame, the deaf and the blind. 

The Monk's eyes filled with tears of joy as he saw 
Christ. As he knelt there with his hands crossed 
upon his breast, worshipping this wondrous Vision, 
he said, "Who am I, Lord, that Thou shouldest come 
from heaven, Thy home, to visit me in my poor 
cell?" 

But as he prayed, suddenly the monastery bell 
loudly rang out, "Bim, bam ! bim, bam !" It called 
the poor people, the blind and lame and all the beg- 
gars of the street, to come to the monastery to get 
their daily food. The Monk, who knelt worshipping 
the beautiful Vision, was the one who always gave 
them this food. 

When he heard the bell he hesitated, not knowing 
what to do. How could he let the poor, hungry 
people stand waiting at the gate, and yet how could 
he leave his heavenly Guest to go to those beggars? 

285 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

As he was trying to decide, a little voice in his heart 
whispered : 

"Do thy duty ; that is best ; 
Leave unto thy Lord the rest !" 

He knew it was his duty to feed the poor, so he 
started at once to his feet and, with a last look at the 
Blessed Vision, he slowly left his cell and went on 
his errand of mercy. 

The poor people were waiting at the gate, look- 
ing hungrily through the iron grating. When they 
received the food, it seemed to them that it tasted 
better than it ever had before. The Monk, as he 
gave it to them, thought o*f all they had to suffer, 
those poor people who had no homes or food, and 
who were often cold and ill, and he felt so sorry for 
them. Again the voice in his heart whispered : 

"Whatsoever thing thou doest 
To the least of Mine and lowest, 
That thou doest unto Me !" 

He was very glad to remember that, in giving to 
the beggars, he really gave to Christ. 

When all the hungry people had been fed, the 
Monk hurried back to his cell and lo ! as he came 
near, he saw the same wonderful light shining from 
his little room. He paused at the threshold, for 
there stood the Vision of Christ, still standing where 
he had left Him when he was called to feed the poor. 

286 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

For a whole hour Christ had waited for him to re- 
turn. 

As he fell again upon his knees, the Vision said, 
"If you had not gone to feed the poor and hungry, 
I could not have stayed, but in serving them you 
served me." 



287 



SUBJECT— THE BEAUTIFUL VISION. 

John I-/.: 21, 2j. 
Picture— SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA— Murillo. 



STORY. 



Last Sunday I told you, children, of the monk to 
whom the Vision of Christ came. Would you like 
to hear to-day of another monk who had a beautiful 
vision ? 

Many, many years ago and far away from here in 
a country called Italy, a lovely boy came to his par- 
ents. They were wealthy people and the}^ did all 
they could to make their darling happy. As he grew 
older, he became more and more beautiful, until his 
face looked like that of an angel. He was so gentle 
and sweet, so glad and joyous that every one loved 
him. He thought often about God and he wanted to 
please Him. 

When he was fifteen, he decided he would leave 
his beautiful home, his parents who loved him so 
dearly and all his kind friends and go into a mon- 
astery. You remember I told you last Sunday that 
this was a place where men called monks lived that 
they might study about God and help the sick and 
poor who came to them. It was hard for Anthony 
(this was the beautiful boy's name) to leave all that 

288 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

he loved, but he felt that God wished him to do 
this. 

His life was very different in the monastery ; in- 
stead of having a large room, beautifully furnished, 




he had a tiny cell with a stone floor in which was 
only a little hard bed, and instead of having many 
good things to eat, he had only the plainest food. 
He did not complain, however, but was gentle and 
loving as he had been at home and quick to do what- 
ever the monks wished. He studied the Bible so 

289 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

carefully that at last he knew it all by heart, and he 
often helped people by telling them what Jesus had 
said. He wore a white robe as did the other monks 
and spent his time studying the Bible, praying to 
God and helping the poor and needy. His friends 
came sometimes to see him for they loved him and 
missed him very much when he went away. 

After he had been in this monastery many years, 
he decided he would go to live with other monks 
who were even poorer. Instead of wearing a white 
robe, he now had a coarse, plain, brown one, tied 
about his waist with a cord of rope. Hi^ bed was 
a pile of straw, his pillow a stone and for food he 
had only bread and water. He was too far away 
ever to see the friends who loved him and he missed 
them, as they did him. 

He now began to preach to people and he had 
such a beautiful voice and tender, earnest face that 
every one loved to hear him. When he told them 
they must be good and love God and help others, 
they knew that he, himself, did all these things. 
Often people would cry when they heard him preach, 
because they would remember how bad they had 
been and they would wish to be better. 

As Anthony passed along the street, the poor 
people, whom he had so often helped, would look 
gratefully at him and little children would run to 
meet him, for they knew he loved them. He was so 
gentle and loving he, himself, was like a little child. 
When he saw children, he remembered that Jesus 
had once been a little Child and he so wished he 
might have seen Him. 

290 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



One time he was visiting a friend in a city called 
Padua. When he went to his room, he put his Bible 
on a large table, knelt down and then read some 
words Jesus had spoken : "If a man love me, I will 
love him, and will come to him.'' 

Anthon}^ prayed : "Oh, dear Jesus, Thou knowest 
that I love Thee ; wilt Thou not come to me?" 

As he prayed, children, a light shone about him 
which was as bright as if the room had been on fire. 
He opened his eyes and there on the Bible stood a 
little Child, the loveliest he had ever seen. As 
Anthony looked toward Him, the Child nestled 
close to his breast and put His little hands upon his 
face. Then He whispered : ''Dear Anthony, I am 
the Christ Child and I have come to show my love 
for you, because you love me and have been so kind, 
helpful and loving to others." 

Anthony w^as too happy to speak. He could 
hardly believe that it was really the wonderful Christ 
Child whom he thus held close to his heart. As he 
gazed upon Him, sweet music filled the room and 
many, many angels floated down toward the Child, 
who still lay in Anthony's arms. After awhile the 
dear Baby and the angels went back to heaven, but 
whenever Anthony knelt in prayer, it seemed as if 
he again felt the loving little hands upon his face 
and saw the Child's beautiful smile. 

For many years he worked for the poor and needy 
and helped every one who came to him and when at 
last he went up to heaven to be with God, people 
called him Saint Anthony because he had been so 
kind and loving. 

291 



SUBJECT— JESUS AND HIS MOTHER. 

Luke I :j8 ; 2 :ig ; John 2 :jj ; ig:26,2y. 

Picture— CHRIST TAKING LEAVE OF HIS 
MOTHER - Plockhorst. 



STORY. 

Do you remember, children, what we have heard 
of dear Mary, the mother of Jesus ? First, the Bible 
tells us that the beautiful angel came to her and told 
her that she was to be more blessed than any other 
woman because the Christ Child was to be given to 
her. We know that she was very happy when she 
heard this wonderful news and that she said she was 
ready for whatever God should send her. 

A little while after that she went to visit her 
cousin and there she sang such a happy song. She 
said she wanted to praise God and rejoice because 
He had blessed her by promising her the Child that 
should bring joy to all the world. Then when the 
shepherds came to see the dear Baby and the Wise 
Men brought Him gifts, the Bible says that Mary 
remembered all these strange things and used often 
to think about them. 

As Jesus grew older, we know what loving care 
she took of Him and what happy days He spent in 
that little home in Nazareth. I don't know what 
any little boy would do without his dear mother. 
No one else would love him so much, nor care for 

292 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

him so tenderly, and I think Mary loved her dear 
little Son even more than other mothers love theirs. 
I know it must have been a great joy to her to tell 
Him stories and teach Him verses from the Bible. 




When Jesus grew older, you remember that His 
dear father went to the heavenl}- home and then 
Jesus worked for His mother and cared for her as 
she had done for Him. She used to come to Him 
in every trouble, knowing that He could always help 

293 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

her. You remember that at the wedding in Cana 
she told Him there was no more wine, feehng sure 
He could in some way get it, and He did help the 
people out of their trouble by turning the water into 
wine. 

When Jesus began to go about from place to place, 
healing the sick and teaching people what was right 
to do. He had to leave His home and He could not 
often return to it. I think this must have been 
hard for both Jesus and His mother, as I feel sure 
they missed each other very much. Sometimes 
Mary would come to the place where He was teach- 
ing and with other women, stay near Him. Oh, 
how glad He must have been to see her, for no one 
loves quite like a mother, and He was made happy, 
I know, by His mother's love. 

But, children, after awhile Jesus knew that He 
must go back to heaven and so He had to say good- 
bye to all His friends. 'Twas hardest of all for Him 
to bid His mother good-bye. In the picture you see 
how lovingly He looks at her, while she gazes at 
His dear face as if she could not let Him go. But 
I am sure He said: "It will only be a little while, 
Mother dear, that you need wait and then you, too, 
will come to heaven and we shall always be 
together." 

Then He called the disciple whom He loved best 
(do you remember who that was? Yes, John) and 
said: "John, I want you to take my dear mother 
to your home and be a son to her in my place. And, 

294 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



Mother," He said, ''will you not love John and be a 
mother to him, as you have been to me." John v^as 
so glad that Jesus had asked him to do this for Him 
and he led Mary very tenderly to his own home and 
I know he always loved her and tried to make her 
happy. 



295 



SUBJECT— CHRIST'S FAREWELL TO HIS 

DISCIPLES. 

• Luke 22 . -8-20 ; John 13-17. 

PicTURE-THE LAST SUPPER— Da Vinci. 



STORY. 

I told you last Sunday, children, that when dear 
Jesus knew He was going back to heaven. He bade 
His mother good-bye. It was very hard for Him to 
leave her and He found it hard to leave the twelve 
disciples, also, who had been with Him so long and 
whom He so dearly loved. 

He wished to have a last supper with them and so 
He told Peter and John to go to Jerusalem, where 
they would meet a servant carrying a pitcher of 
water. "Follow him,"' said Jesus, "and when he 
reaches his master's house, ask the owner if I may 
have a room where I may have supper with my 
disciples. He will show you a large room upstairs, 
where you can prepare for us.'*' 

The two disciples started, met the servant carry- 
ing the pitcher just as Jesus had said, and when 
they reached the house and asked for the room, the 
owner, who perhaps knew and loved Jesus, was 
quite willing to let them have it. When Jesus and 
the other disciples came, a little later, they found 
that Peter and John had the supper all ready for 

them. 

296 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



But I must tell you something that made Jesus 
sad. As they went to the table, some of the dis- 
ciples began to quarrel, as each wanted to sit near 
Jesus. I wonder if any of us, children, ever want 
the best places and forget to be loving and unselfish. 
Jesus said nothing, but He arose and did a very 
strange thing. The disciples had taken off their 
sandals, as I have told you people always did when 




they entered a house, and their feet were dusty and 
dirty. Often a servant washed the guests' feet as 
they came in, but there was no servant in that upper 
room. Think how astonished the disciples were to 
see Jesus, Himself, bend over and wash the feet of 
each one, wiping them carefully with a towel. 

When He had finished. He said in such a tender 
voice : ''I know you love me and wish to be like 
me. Now if I am willing to serve you, even by 
washing your feet, will you not be kind and loving 
to each other ? Do not try to get the best places and 

297 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

have the nicest things, yourselves, but learn to think 
of others." 

I am sure each one felt sorry he had wanted the 
best place and thought he would try to be more un- 
selfish. 

I wish I could tell you, children, of all the loving 
words that Jesus said to His diciples as they sat 
there at the table. John has written many of them 
in the Bible and when you are older, I know^ you will 
love to read and learn them. I will give you a few 
of them now. 

Jesus said, "My little children, as I have loved 
you, so I want you to love each other." (He called 
those grown men, little children, because He loved 
them so.) 

Then He told them He must leave them and go 
back to heaven. They were very sad and felt they 
could not have Him go, but Jesus said : "Do not be 
troubled, because I go to make a home for you and 
then you can all come and be with me forever. I 
will still be near you, even though you cannot see 
me, and you can pray to me, asking for what you 
wish. I want you to have peace, happiness and great 
joy and I hope you will be brave, strong men, be- 
cause your are my friends." 

Then, children, Jesus prayed for His disciples. 
He asked God to make them love each other, to keep 
them from doing wrong and to give them joy and 
happiness. Would you not like to have been with 
Jesus then ? I wish I might have seen His dear face 
and heard His loving voice, asking the heavenly 
Father to bless me. Do }'ou know that He really 

298 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



did ask God to bless you and me and every one who 
loved him? He asked God to bring all of us to 
heaven to be with Him, 

Until Jesus came, people did not know what a 
beautiful place heaven was, nor how happy every 
one would be who went there. But now we are sure 
that we shall be with Jesus, so we are glad to go, 
and though we cannot help being lo ely when God 
calls our dear friends to leave us, we must remember 
how happy they are up in heaven. The Bible tells 
us there will be no sorrow nor trouble there ; no one 
will ever get cross or tired or sick, but there will be 
such joy and happiness as we have never known 
here. 

After Jesus had prayed, they had a simple supper 
and as they ate, Jesus said, "When you eat bread 
and drink wine, I want you always to remember 
how I have loved you and what I have done for 
you." 

What a sad, yet happy supper it must have been ! 
How the disciples must have longed to have Jesus 
stay with them and yet how glad they must have 
felt that they should go to Him in heaven. 

Children, sometimes in church do you see people 
taking bread and wine ? They are doing this be- 
cause they love Jesus and want to remember that 
last supper which He took with His disciples, when 
He prayed for them and for all of those who loved 
Him. I hope some time each one of you dear chil- 
dren will take this bread and wine in church, be- 
cause you, too, love dear Jesus and want to remem- 
ber all He has done for you. 

2QQ 



SUBJECT— THE GOOD SHEPHERD'S WON- 
DERFUL LOVE. 

John 10:11. 
Picture— THE GOOD SHEPHERD— Plockhorst. 

Song— "SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US," first verse only. 
( From '•'■ Childhood Sotigs,^' P^K^ 35 • ) 




300 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

I think that the death of Christ, if given at all to 
children of Kindergarten age, should be presented 
symbolically. In my own Kindergarten, I used the 
beautiful story of "The Good Shepherd," found in 
''One Year of Sunday School Lessons for Young 
Children," by Florence U. Palmer, page 184, and as 
an illustration this picture of Plockhorst. 

I had the aria, ''He shall Feed His Flock Like a 
Shepherd," from Handel's "Messiah," sung once 
more to the children, both from its appropriateness 
to the subject and also as a connection with the 
lesson for the following Sunday. 



30T 



SUBJECT— JESUS' RETURN TO HEAVEN. 

Matthew 28 :ig, 20 ; Luke 24 :jO,ji ; Acts i :g-ii. 
Picture— ASCENSION OF CHRIST— Bierman. 



STORY. 

(This story is planned for Easter Sunday.) 

Children, do you remember the little boy, George 
Frederick Handel, of whom I told you many, many 
weeks ago, who was so fond of music? (Review 
briefly Handel's life, as told in ''The Christmas 
Story in Music") You know that when he became 
a man, he wrote many of the beautiful Bible stories, 
his mother had told him, in music. The one he 
wrote best because he loved it most was the story of 
Jesus. We had the beginning of this played for us, 
the song the angels sang when Christ was born. 
Then we heard the song about the Shepherd, which 
Handel wrote, sung last Sunday. To-day I wish 
you to hear the part that tells about the first Easter, 
when Jesus went back to heaven. 

When He had said good-bye to His dear disciples, 
Jesus led them to a place near Bethany, where 
Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived whom He loved to 
visit. Here He asked them to tell every one about 
Him, and Hi'^ love for the whole world. Then He 
said that though they could not see Him any more, 
He should not be far away and His last words were, 
"Lo, I am with you alway." 

302 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

As they listened, gathering closely about Him, so 
they could look up into His dear face and hear every 
word. He spread out His hands and blessed them. 
Then slowly He rose up into the air, higher and 




higher, above the trees, above the hills and moun- 
tains, until, as they gazed, a soft cloud hid Him from, 
their sight. But it seemed as if they heard the 
angels singing a glad song of welcome, as He 
reached the gates of heaven. 

303 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

As they listened, two angels appeared to them and 
said that, as Jesus had gone up into heaven, so He 
should come again from heaven. And, children, we, 
too, are waiting for the glad day when Jesus shall 
come again. 

Now I want you to hear the music which Handel 
wrote. He thought that, as Jesus came near heaven, 
some of the angels floated down to meet Him. As 
they returned with Him and drew near the gates of 
heaven, they sang : "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, 
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors and the King 
of Glory shall come in." (That means that they 
asked the angels in heaven to open the gates wide, 
so Jesus, the King, could come in.) 

"Who is the King of Glory?" asked those in 
heaven. 

''The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory," 
sang those who were with Jesus. Now listen and 
hear this music. (If it is not possible to have the 
choriis sung, the instrumental music alone may be 
played. The children can easily hear the questions 
and answers in this.) 

Then, when Jesus had entered the gates, Handel 
thought that all on earth and all in heaven joined in 
a glad song of praise, singing over and over, "Halle- 
lujah ! Hallelujah !" because Jesus is "King of Kings 
and Lord of Lords." This music is so beautiful, and 
when people listen to it they always rise to their 
feet and it seems to them as if they could look into 
heaven and hear the angels singing. Now listen as 
the joyous words are sung, "Hallelujah! Hallelu- 

304 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

jah!" (This music, also, can be given only on the 
piano, if the chorus cannot be rendered. My chil- 
dren listened so attentively while it was played, and 
when I asked, "Did you hear the Hallelujah?" one 
and another replied, "I heard it," "I heard it.") 

Some day I hope, children, you can all hear this 
whole beautiful story told in music, just as Handel 
wrote it. 



305 



SUBJECT— -1 AM WITH YOU ALWAY." 

Matthew 28 :20. 
Picture— OMNIPRESENCE OF CHRIST— Hofmann. 

Song— "GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR ME." 

[From '■^ Songs for Little Children ^^^ •-volume 2, P^g^ 3-) 



STORY. 

What day was last Sunday, children? Yes, 
Easter. What happened on the first Easter day? 
Jesus went back to heaven. Do you remember how 
glad the angels were to welcome Him and how they 
sang, "Hallelujah, Hallelujah?" Many people used 
to think often of dear Jesus, after He had left them, 
and of what He wished them to do. To-day I want 
to tell you of a family that loved Him and tried to 
please Him. There were in this family a father, 
mother, grandmother and three children. One 
morning they decided that each one would try to do 
something to please Jesus that day. 

When evening came and they had eaten their sup- 
per, the father told what he had done. He said he 
had seen a poor horse trying to draw a heavy load 
up a steep hill. As the wagon came to a muddy 
place, the wheels stuck and though the horse pulled 
and pulled, he could not move it. The father 
thought of the words of Jesus, "Blessed are the 
merciful," so he went out into the road and pushed 
against the wheel. Some other men, who saw what 

306 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 



he was trying to do, came to help and when they all 
pushed,, the wheels came out of the mud and the 
horse started the load. 




Then the mother said that she had heard a knock, 
as she was busy in the kitchen, and when she opened 
the door, there was a poor man who asked for some 
food. She remembered Jesus had said that if we 
fed any one who was hungry, it was the same as 



307 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

though we gave food to Him, so she gladly gave 
the poor man some breakfast. 

Then the dear grandmother spoke. She said she 
could not go out and no one had come to her, but 
she saw that the mother was tired, so she had taken 
the baby and had cared for him while the mother 
rested. As she held the dear little child, she remem- 
bered how Jesus loved little children and took them 
in His arms and blessed them. 

Then the little sister said that as she was going 
to school, some boys threw^ snow balls at her and 
knocked off her hat. She was about to speak angrily 
to them when she remembered Jesus' Golden Rule, 
that we must do unto others as we wish them to do 
to us, so she called out merrily, "I, too, can throw 
snow balls." 

The boys, who had meant to tease her, laughed 
and said, *'Fire away," and soon they were all having 
a merry play. 

Last of all the little brother told his story. He 
said that, as he was going to school, he had seen an 
old woman carrying a heavy basket up a steep hill. 
He knew that she must be some one's grandmother 
and that he wouldn't v>^ant his dear grandma to 
carry so heavy a burden. He remembered, too, that 
Jesus was always ready to help every one that 
needed Him. So he ran up to the old woman and 
said, "Let me carry your basket up the hill for you." 

She smiled and said : "Thank you, my dear little 
fellow ; it will be such a help to me if you will 
take it." 

30S 



KINDERGARTEN STORIES 

\Mien they reached her house, she said : "God 
bless you, my dear boy, and make you as happy as 
you have made me." 

When the stories were ah told, the father took the 
Bible and read from it the last words Jesus had 
spoken before He went back to heaven, "Lo, I am 
with you alway." Then he said: "I think dear 
Jesus is with us, even though we cannot see Him. 
Let us kneel down and thank Him for all His 
blessings." 

You see in the picture that Jesus really was with 
them, and so He is with us, children dear, all the 
time. At night, when your mamma puts you to bed, 
perhaps sometimes she stays with you a little while, 
after the light is out. You cannot see her nor hear 
her and yet you know that she is there ; so we may 
know dear Jesus is with us, because He said, "I am 
with you alwayf 



309 



INDEX. 



Alabaster box, 256. 

Andrew, 92, 97. 

Angel, 35, 41, 49, 64, 89, 110, 222, 308. 

Animals, 20, 108, 230. 

Anthony, 288. 

Apples, 31, 184. 

Baptism, 82. 

Bartimeus, 103. 

Beatitudes, 105-130. 

Beatrice, 108. 

Beggars, 285. 

Bethany, 254, 302. 

Bethlehem, 38, 63, 64. 

Bible, 1, 80, 289. 

Birds, 120, 141, 156, 268, 278. 

Birthday, 230. 

Boat, 92, 187, 201. 

Bread, 88, 199, 202, 224. 

Brother, 278, 308. 

Builders, 163. 

Camel, 57, 199. 
Cana, 96. 
Candle, 138, 233. 
Castle, 118, 128, 196. 
Cat, 120, 230. 
Chickens, 266. 
Child, 23. 
Christ ( see Jesus ) 

311 



INDEX 



Christmas, 43, 51, 198. 
Church, 71, 105, 167, 169. 
Colt, 258. 
Comforter, 115. 
Communion, 299. 
Cow, 22, 27. 
Cup, 126, 205. 

Dante, 105. 

Deaf and dumb, 102. 

Disciples, 90, 97, 105, 187, 201, 248, 296. 

Doctor (see Physician) 

Dog, 121, 207, 210, 230. 

Dollies, 132, 133, 170. 

Dove, 35, 85, 92. 

Easter, 149, 302. 
Echo, 161. 
Egypt, 62, 64. 
Elizabeth, 37. 

Farmers, 29, 176, 182. 

Father, 115, 169, 244, 306. 

Fishermen, 92, 163. 

Fishing, 92, 165, 239. 

Flowers, 12, 26, 132, 141, 234, 274. 

Forest, 17, 20, 107. 

Fruit, 182. 

Galahad, 126. 
Garden, 186, 274, 280. 
Gifts, 33, 55, 57, 256, 262. 
Golden Rule, 158, 308. 
Grains, 29, 31, 182. 
Grandmother, 115, 157, 308. 

Handel, 44, 301, 302. 
Harvest, 29, 182. 

312 



INDEX 



Heaven, 299. 
Hen, 266. 
Holy Grail, 126. 
Horse, 306. 
Hospital, 169, 231. 

Jairus, 191. 
James, 93, 194, 221. 
Jericho, 215, 250. 
Jerusalem, 73, 215, 260. 
Jesus as Leader, 18. 

as Light of World, 14. 

as Rock, 5. 

as Shepherd, 2, 208, 300. 

as Star, 15. 

as Sun, 14. 

birth, 36, 40, 49. 

as Child, 63, 64, 291. 

childhood, 68. 

home, 68. 

dress, 70, 75. 

in Temple, 73. 

as Boy, 72, 75. 

home life, 78. 

as Carpenter, 79. 

baptism, 82. 

temptation, 86. 

and disciples, 90. 

at wedding, 96. 

as Physician, 100, 171, 191. 

as Preacher, 105-163. 

and birds, 146. 

and lilies, 148. 

and Sabbath, 167. 

stilling tempest, 187. 

feeding multitude, 201. 

in prayer, 219. 

and children, 246. 



313 



INDEX 



Jesus and Zacchseus, 250. 

and friends, 254. 

entering Jerusalem, 258. 

and mother, 292. 

last supper, 296. 

death, 301. 

ascension, 302. 

omnipresence, 309. 
John ( the Baptist ) , 82, 90. 
John (the disciple) , 92, 97, 194, 221, 258, 294. 
Jordan, 84, 90, 250. 
Joseph, 38, 63, 64, 71, 73, 79. 

Kindergarten, 45, 54, 153, 154. 
King, 38, 64, 118, 124, 275. 
Knights, 125, 196. 

Lamb, 3, 23, 41, 208, 230. 
Launfal (Sir), 196. 
Lazarus, 254. 
Leader, 18. 
.Leopard, 21. 
Leper, 197. 

Light, 11, 41, 80, 127, 199, 285, 291. 
Lilies, 35, 148. 
Lion, 20. 
Longfellow, 284. 
Lord's Prayer, 224. 
Lost, 17, 212. 
Lowell, 195. 

Magi, 57. 

Martha, 254. 

Mary (mother of Jesus ) , 35, 39, 78, 98, 292. 

Mary (sister of Lazarus ), 254. 

Matthew, 94. 

Merciful, 118, 218, 306. 

Messiah, 49, 301, 304. 



INDEX 



Monastery, 284, 288. 
Monk, 284, 288. 
Monkey, 240. 
Moonlight, 14, 188. 
Mother, 7, 171, 236, 246, 307. 
Mountain, 105, 109, 159, 206. 
Multitude, 74, 202. 
Music, 44, 302. 

Nain, 171. 

Nathanael, 94. 

Nazareth, 33, 67, 68, 73, 78. 

Neighbor, 214. 

Nests, 143, 272. 

Palace, 124, 275. 

Pansy, 277, 281. 

Paradise, 108. 

Party, 30, 51, 178, 229. 

Peacemaker, 130. 

Peter, 92, 97, 100, 194, 221, 258. 

Philip, 93, 97. 

Physician, 100, 171, 191. 

Ponies, 230. 

Prayer, 9, 80, 128, 219, 224, 232, 285, 291, 298. 

Prodigal son, 236, 242. 

Rabbits, 230. 
Rain, 8, 25, 165. 
Rock, 5, 92, 110, 164. 
Rose, 276. 
"Round Table," 125. 

Sabbath, 167. 

Samaritan, 216. 

School, 308. 

Sea, 5. 

Sermon on Mount, 105-163. 

Sheep, 2, 40, 208. 



INDEX 



Sheplierd, 2, 40, 49, 208, 300. 

Sick boy, 101. 

Sick woman, 191. 

Sister, 113, 308. 

Snow, 211, 268. 

Snow balls, 308. 

Sower, 176. 

Spring, 141, 274. 

Squirrels, 160. 

Stars, 14, 41, 61, 109. 

Storm, 8, 127, 165, 189, 212, 226. 

Summer, 195. 

Sun, 11, 34. 

Sunday School, 169. 

Talents, 278. 
Tell-tale, 154. 
Temple, 75, 88, 261, 262. 
Temptation, 86. 
Thanksgiving, 29. 
Transfiguration, 221. 
Tree, 184, 252, 278. 

Vine, 186, 276. 
Virgil, 108. 

Wasp, 239. 
Water, 99, 205. 
Wedding, 96. 
Wheat, 29, 31, 168, 182. 
Widow, 171, 264. 
Wine, 98. 
Winter, 198, 268. 
Wise Men, 57, 64. 
Wolf, 22. 

Zacchaeus, 250. 



316 



MAY 11 1903 



M 



C^ 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



U29 B22 no Q 



